My great grandmother Beulah Strong Wilbur graduated from Rochester Business Institute in 1902 . Her examination certificate reads that she earned 88% for books, specimens and neatness.
Beulah's major was bookeeping and maybe this is how she met my great grandfather Frank Sargent who was from a family of bookeepers.
With this same precision, she made out the family tree and dated it August 25, 1943.
Sadly she passed away one year later in 1944 at the early age of 63 due to nephritis.
She also suffered from what looks like autistic spectrum disorder as she was rigid in demeanor, had a strong resistance to change and sensory processing disorders.
She owned a home in Niles Michigan but lived at the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles for 20 years. She hoarded ivory soap and rice as well as cash in her apartment. She rarely saw or connected with her grandchildren who lived close by. My father said she wore funny hats. She also liked guns and was called "Pistol Carrying Momma"
I am not sure why the family offered her husband one thousand dollars to leave her. He accepted the offer and then was treated like a pariah for his remaining years.
Divorce records revealed that she married Frank Sargent August 26, 1903 in Waukegan, Illinois. Three months later my grandfather Wilbur was born . In February 28, 1907 a divorce was finaized between the couple February 28, 1907 in Berrien, Michigan..
Beulah along with my grandfather and father were named after a family member Henry A Strong the President of Eastman Kodak. Henry's wife Helen Strong (Beulah's aunt) passed away in 1904 leaving her an inheritance in Kodak stock.
Mrs. Henry Helen Griffin Strong's Obituary:
" The sad news has reached Niles of the death of Mrs. Henry Strong, a lady well liked in this city, which occurred at her home in Rochester N.Y., whither her sister Mrs. Laura Wilbur and daughter Beula went the first of the week as soon as informed of her dangerous condition. Mrs. Strong has been a frequent visitor to Niles. She was also the sister of the late Mrs. William Griffin Lacey.
She was noted among her friends for her beautiful Christian character and her charities, her husband being principal stockholder of the Eastman Kodak Company, one of Rochester's most flourishing institutions.
Mrs. Strong is survived by two daughters and one son and Mrs George Carter, the wife of the governor of Hawaiian Islands where both daughters were planning to go, when prevented by physical illness.
Mrs. Strong was the daughter of Robert Griffin, whom older residents will remember. It is understood that Mrs. Laura Wilbur did not reach the bedside of her sister before death came"
Mrs. Laura Wilbur my many great grandmother did not reach her sister's bedside because she was helping her daughter Beulah with her small child Wilbur (the writers grandfather). Wilbur was born in November 1903 and was only one years of age at the time of his aunt Helen's death.
Helen Strong left a Kodak portfolio for both her sister Laura and her neice Beula Strong Wilbur apon her death
Beula continued to work part time as a housekeeper and as a bookeeper and kept re investing in Kodak stock.
Although sent away to a military academy as a young boy, Wilbur benefited from his inheritance from his mother. Later he attended USC and Cal Tech where he earned a degree in engineering.
My grandfather Wilbur then married my grandmother in 1926 and together they had two children four years later.
The 1929 stock market crash was terribly hard on Wilbur and his mother Beula never forgave him for losing all of his inherited wealth. Wilbur asked family members for their financial help such as Gertrude Strong of Morgan Hill Santa Clara and sadly did not help him.
Soon after he sold orange juice on the streets. Later he was honored with a position at the Department of Water Power after he promoted a recording process previously unkown in electrical power production. He originated, devised and installed power monitorining "ocillographs" for two dozen power sub stations, including Boulder Dam and the Owens Valley projects.
Wilbur never lost his style of living and honored his committments to his family.
His mother in law Anna Dennis adored him. She was a Bible teacher and one of the Founders of Westmont College in Santa Barbara.
Wilbur took care of Anna when she could no longer care for herself. He built her a special wing on his house. I remember as a child spending special times with her in that Garden room.
Beula's grandson Richard Strong Sargent became Chief of the LA firedpartment and her grandaughter Shirley Sargent Robinson was a devoted teacher, counselor and mother for many years.
Beulah's major was bookeeping and maybe this is how she met my great grandfather Frank Sargent who was from a family of bookeepers.
With this same precision, she made out the family tree and dated it August 25, 1943.
Sadly she passed away one year later in 1944 at the early age of 63 due to nephritis.
She also suffered from what looks like autistic spectrum disorder as she was rigid in demeanor, had a strong resistance to change and sensory processing disorders.
She owned a home in Niles Michigan but lived at the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles for 20 years. She hoarded ivory soap and rice as well as cash in her apartment. She rarely saw or connected with her grandchildren who lived close by. My father said she wore funny hats. She also liked guns and was called "Pistol Carrying Momma"
I am not sure why the family offered her husband one thousand dollars to leave her. He accepted the offer and then was treated like a pariah for his remaining years.
Divorce records revealed that she married Frank Sargent August 26, 1903 in Waukegan, Illinois. Three months later my grandfather Wilbur was born . In February 28, 1907 a divorce was finaized between the couple February 28, 1907 in Berrien, Michigan..
Beulah along with my grandfather and father were named after a family member Henry A Strong the President of Eastman Kodak. Henry's wife Helen Strong (Beulah's aunt) passed away in 1904 leaving her an inheritance in Kodak stock.
Mrs. Henry Helen Griffin Strong's Obituary:
" The sad news has reached Niles of the death of Mrs. Henry Strong, a lady well liked in this city, which occurred at her home in Rochester N.Y., whither her sister Mrs. Laura Wilbur and daughter Beula went the first of the week as soon as informed of her dangerous condition. Mrs. Strong has been a frequent visitor to Niles. She was also the sister of the late Mrs. William Griffin Lacey.
She was noted among her friends for her beautiful Christian character and her charities, her husband being principal stockholder of the Eastman Kodak Company, one of Rochester's most flourishing institutions.
Mrs. Strong is survived by two daughters and one son and Mrs George Carter, the wife of the governor of Hawaiian Islands where both daughters were planning to go, when prevented by physical illness.
Mrs. Strong was the daughter of Robert Griffin, whom older residents will remember. It is understood that Mrs. Laura Wilbur did not reach the bedside of her sister before death came"
Mrs. Laura Wilbur my many great grandmother did not reach her sister's bedside because she was helping her daughter Beulah with her small child Wilbur (the writers grandfather). Wilbur was born in November 1903 and was only one years of age at the time of his aunt Helen's death.
Helen Strong left a Kodak portfolio for both her sister Laura and her neice Beula Strong Wilbur apon her death
Beula continued to work part time as a housekeeper and as a bookeeper and kept re investing in Kodak stock.
Although sent away to a military academy as a young boy, Wilbur benefited from his inheritance from his mother. Later he attended USC and Cal Tech where he earned a degree in engineering.
My grandfather Wilbur then married my grandmother in 1926 and together they had two children four years later.
The 1929 stock market crash was terribly hard on Wilbur and his mother Beula never forgave him for losing all of his inherited wealth. Wilbur asked family members for their financial help such as Gertrude Strong of Morgan Hill Santa Clara and sadly did not help him.
Soon after he sold orange juice on the streets. Later he was honored with a position at the Department of Water Power after he promoted a recording process previously unkown in electrical power production. He originated, devised and installed power monitorining "ocillographs" for two dozen power sub stations, including Boulder Dam and the Owens Valley projects.
Wilbur never lost his style of living and honored his committments to his family.
His mother in law Anna Dennis adored him. She was a Bible teacher and one of the Founders of Westmont College in Santa Barbara.
Wilbur took care of Anna when she could no longer care for herself. He built her a special wing on his house. I remember as a child spending special times with her in that Garden room.
Beula's grandson Richard Strong Sargent became Chief of the LA firedpartment and her grandaughter Shirley Sargent Robinson was a devoted teacher, counselor and mother for many years.
My great grandmother Beulah Strong Wilbur graduated from Rochester Business Institute in 1902 . Her examination certificate reads that she earned 88% for books, specimens and neatness.
Beulah's major was bookeeping and maybe this is how she met my great grandfather Frank Sargent who was from a family of bookeepers.
With this same precision, she made out the family tree and dated it August 25, 1943.
Sadly she passed away one year later in 1944 at the early age of 63 due to nephritis.
She also suffered from what looks like autistic spectrum disorder as she was rigid in demeanor, had a strong resistance to change and sensory processing disorders.
She owned a home in Niles Michigan but lived at the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles for 20 years. She hoarded ivory soap and rice as well as cash in her apartment. She rarely saw or connected with her grandchildren who lived close by. My father said she wore funny hats. She also liked guns and was called "Pistol Carrying Momma"
I am not sure why the family offered her husband one thousand dollars to leave her. He accepted the offer and then was treated like a pariah for his remaining years.
Divorce records revealed that she married Frank Sargent August 26, 1903 in Waukegan, Illinois. Three months later my grandfather Wilbur was born . In February 28, 1907 a divorce was finaized between the couple February 28, 1907 in Berrien, Michigan..
Beulah along with my grandfather and father were named after a family member Henry A Strong the President of Eastman Kodak. Henry's wife Helen Strong (Beulah's aunt) passed away in 1904 leaving her an inheritance in Kodak stock.
Mrs. Henry Helen Griffin Strong's Obituary:
" The sad news has reached Niles of the death of Mrs. Henry Strong, a lady well liked in this city, which occurred at her home in Rochester N.Y., whither her sister Mrs. Laura Wilbur and daughter Beula went the first of the week as soon as informed of her dangerous condition. Mrs. Strong has been a frequent visitor to Niles. She was also the sister of the late Mrs. William Griffin Lacey.
She was noted among her friends for her beautiful Christian character and her charities, her husband being principal stockholder of the Eastman Kodak Company, one of Rochester's most flourishing institutions.
Mrs. Strong is survived by two daughters and one son and Mrs George Carter, the wife of the governor of Hawaiian Islands where both daughters were planning to go, when prevented by physical illness.
Mrs. Strong was the daughter of Robert Griffin, whom older residents will remember. It is understood that Mrs. Laura Wilbur did not reach the bedside of her sister before death came"
Mrs. Laura Wilbur my many great grandmother did not reach her sister's bedside because she was helping her daughter Beulah with her small child Wilbur (the writers grandfather). Wilbur was born in November 1903 and was only one years of age at the time of his aunt Helen's death.
Helen Strong left a Kodak portfolio for both her sister Laura and her neice Beula Strong Wilbur apon her death
Beula continued to work part time as a housekeeper and as a bookeeper and kept re investing in Kodak stock.
Although sent away to a military academy as a young boy, Wilbur benefited from his inheritance from his mother. Later he attended USC and Cal Tech where he earned a degree in engineering.
My grandfather Wilbur then married my grandmother in 1926 and together they had two children four years later.
The 1929 stock market crash was terribly hard on Wilbur and his mother Beula never forgave him for losing all of his inherited wealth. Wilbur asked family members for their financial help such as Gertrude Strong of Morgan Hill Santa Clara and sadly did not help him.
Soon after he sold orange juice on the streets. Later he was honored with a position at the Department of Water Power after he promoted a recording process previously unkown in electrical power production. He originated, devised and installed power monitorining "ocillographs" for two dozen power sub stations, including Boulder Dam and the Owens Valley projects.
Wilbur never lost his style of living and honored his committments to his family.
His mother in law Anna Dennis adored him. She was a Bible teacher and one of the Founders of Westmont College in Santa Barbara.
Wilbur took care of Anna when she could no longer care for herself. He built her a special wing on his house. I remember as a child spending special times with her in that Garden room.
Beula's grandson Richard Strong Sargent became Chief of the LA firedpartment and her grandaughter Shirley Sargent Robinson was a devoted teacher, counselor and mother for many years.
Beulah's major was bookeeping and maybe this is how she met my great grandfather Frank Sargent who was from a family of bookeepers.
With this same precision, she made out the family tree and dated it August 25, 1943.
Sadly she passed away one year later in 1944 at the early age of 63 due to nephritis.
She also suffered from what looks like autistic spectrum disorder as she was rigid in demeanor, had a strong resistance to change and sensory processing disorders.
She owned a home in Niles Michigan but lived at the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles for 20 years. She hoarded ivory soap and rice as well as cash in her apartment. She rarely saw or connected with her grandchildren who lived close by. My father said she wore funny hats. She also liked guns and was called "Pistol Carrying Momma"
I am not sure why the family offered her husband one thousand dollars to leave her. He accepted the offer and then was treated like a pariah for his remaining years.
Divorce records revealed that she married Frank Sargent August 26, 1903 in Waukegan, Illinois. Three months later my grandfather Wilbur was born . In February 28, 1907 a divorce was finaized between the couple February 28, 1907 in Berrien, Michigan..
Beulah along with my grandfather and father were named after a family member Henry A Strong the President of Eastman Kodak. Henry's wife Helen Strong (Beulah's aunt) passed away in 1904 leaving her an inheritance in Kodak stock.
Mrs. Henry Helen Griffin Strong's Obituary:
" The sad news has reached Niles of the death of Mrs. Henry Strong, a lady well liked in this city, which occurred at her home in Rochester N.Y., whither her sister Mrs. Laura Wilbur and daughter Beula went the first of the week as soon as informed of her dangerous condition. Mrs. Strong has been a frequent visitor to Niles. She was also the sister of the late Mrs. William Griffin Lacey.
She was noted among her friends for her beautiful Christian character and her charities, her husband being principal stockholder of the Eastman Kodak Company, one of Rochester's most flourishing institutions.
Mrs. Strong is survived by two daughters and one son and Mrs George Carter, the wife of the governor of Hawaiian Islands where both daughters were planning to go, when prevented by physical illness.
Mrs. Strong was the daughter of Robert Griffin, whom older residents will remember. It is understood that Mrs. Laura Wilbur did not reach the bedside of her sister before death came"
Mrs. Laura Wilbur my many great grandmother did not reach her sister's bedside because she was helping her daughter Beulah with her small child Wilbur (the writers grandfather). Wilbur was born in November 1903 and was only one years of age at the time of his aunt Helen's death.
Helen Strong left a Kodak portfolio for both her sister Laura and her neice Beula Strong Wilbur apon her death
Beula continued to work part time as a housekeeper and as a bookeeper and kept re investing in Kodak stock.
Although sent away to a military academy as a young boy, Wilbur benefited from his inheritance from his mother. Later he attended USC and Cal Tech where he earned a degree in engineering.
My grandfather Wilbur then married my grandmother in 1926 and together they had two children four years later.
The 1929 stock market crash was terribly hard on Wilbur and his mother Beula never forgave him for losing all of his inherited wealth. Wilbur asked family members for their financial help such as Gertrude Strong of Morgan Hill Santa Clara and sadly did not help him.
Soon after he sold orange juice on the streets. Later he was honored with a position at the Department of Water Power after he promoted a recording process previously unkown in electrical power production. He originated, devised and installed power monitorining "ocillographs" for two dozen power sub stations, including Boulder Dam and the Owens Valley projects.
Wilbur never lost his style of living and honored his committments to his family.
His mother in law Anna Dennis adored him. She was a Bible teacher and one of the Founders of Westmont College in Santa Barbara.
Wilbur took care of Anna when she could no longer care for herself. He built her a special wing on his house. I remember as a child spending special times with her in that Garden room.
Beula's grandson Richard Strong Sargent became Chief of the LA firedpartment and her grandaughter Shirley Sargent Robinson was a devoted teacher, counselor and mother for many years.
Bio by: Catherine Denise Sargent
Gravesite Details
Beula called herself Parse after her father's middle name Enoch Parsons Wilbur and he was buried at Silverbrook cemetery in Niles Michigan.
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