William was the son of Hiram Lunsford and his second-wife Sarah Ellen “Nellie” Hendrickson (nee Moon), who married on 5 Apr 1853 in Fulton Co., Indiana. William’s father Hiram had first married Rebecca Ann Moore on 20 Feb 1845 in Fulton County, and they had seven children together—Caroline (b. ca. 1846), Emeline P. (26 Feb 1848 – 6 Jun 1863), Isabell Jane (12 Mar 1850 – 5 Jul 1915), Horace Greely (1 Feb 1852 – 27 Feb 1913), Julia Francis (15 Feb 1854 – 25 Jul 1925), Maria D. (5 Mar 1858 – 26 Aug 1859), and Rebecca Jr. (28 Jan 1860 – 1 Jul 1904).
I found the family on the 1850 Census, living in Tippecanoe Township in Pulaski Co., Indiana. Hiram Lunsford, aged 32, was a farmer. Rebecca, aged 23, was tending to their home, which included daughters Emeline, aged 2, and Isabell, aged 3 months.
The couples next four children arrived on schedule every two years, all the children delivered in either February or March, except for Rebecca Jr., who arrived in January. Sadly, Rebecca Sr. died ten days after Rebecca Jr. was born. She was only 31, thirteen days shy of her thirty second birthday.
Hiram and the children appeared on the 1860 Census. Hiram, aged 42 widowed five months earlier, was busy with the farm. After her mother’s death, it had likely fallen to daughter Emeline, aged 12, to help with the household chores and the care of the four younger children—Jane (aka Isabell), aged 10, Horace, aged 8, Julia, aged 6, and Rebecca, aged 5 months.
With the welfare of five children hanging in the balance, Hiram had quickly remarried, wedding Sarah Ellen “Nellie” Hendrickson on or shortly after 9 Jul 1861 in Fulton Co., Indiana. It was also a second marriage for Ellen. She had previously married Peter Hendrickson on 5 Apr 1853 in Fulton County. Peter Hendrickson had also died in 1860, along with a seven-year-old son named Peter who was born in 1853.
Per Nellie on the 1910 Census, Hiram and Ellen/Nellie had five children together—Melinna “Linna” (22 Dec 1865 – 13 May 1946), William Moon (7 Oct 1865 – 3 Sep 1944), Frank M. (Oct 1869 – May 1939), Mollie Marie (12 Apr 1871 – 13 Nov 1941), and Martha “Mattie” (12 Oct 1873 – 9 Apr 1943).
Their blended family appeared together on the 1870 Census, living in Tippecanoe Township in Pulaski County. Hiram Lunsford (Lunsbury on the transcribed record), aged 56, was still actively farming. Ellen, aged 35, was keeping house. There with their father and step-mother/mother were Jane (aka Isabell), aged 21, Greely (aka Horace), aged 19, Julia, aged 16, Rebecca, aged 11, Linna, aged 6, William, aged 5, and Frank, aged 1.
The family was in the same place when the 1880 Census taker knocked on their door. Hiram Lunsford, aged 63, was still noted as a farmer. Nellie, aged 44, was keeping house. All of Hiram’s older children were out on their own. All five of Hiram and Nellie’s children were listed with their parents—Melinna, aged 15, William, aged 13, Frank, aged 11, Mollie (Mary on the record), aged 8, and Martha, aged 6.
Seven years after that census, William married first-wife Ida May Rarick on 10 Nov 1887 in Pulaski Co., Indiana. Ida was the daughter of Hiram Rarick and Lydia Culp (possibly Kulp). William and Ida welcomed daughter Ruby May on 27 Jul 1895. Sadly, two years later, Ida died on 2 May 1897 at age 32.
William mourned the loss of Ida for a year before deciding to remarry, exchanging vows with second-wife Rose "Rosa" Etta Elmerick on 30 Nov 1898 in Pulaski Co., Indiana. William and Rose had three children together—Olive (24 Feb 1900 – 15 Jul 1921), Mollie Marie (13 Jan 1902 – 21 Jan 1977), and Hiram Ray (16 Apr 1904 – 30 Oct 1987).
William and Rosa (seemed to use rather than Rose) appeared together on the 1900 Census, living in Aubbeenaubbee Township in Fulton Co., Indiana. William Lunsford, aged 35, was noted as a day laborer. Rosa, aged 22, reported that she had had one child, who was still living. Indeed, daughter Olive had been born four months earlier. It is unclear why Olive wasn’t listed with her parents on that record, or why William’s daughter Ruby was also a no-show.
The 1910 Census had them together, living in Union Township in Fulton County. William Lunsford, aged 44, was doing farm labor. Rosa, aged 32, reported that she had had three children, all of them still living. There with them were William’s daughter Ruby, aged 15, and Rosa’s three children with William, Olive, aged 10, Marie (aka Mollie), aged 8, and Ray, aged 6.
On 8 Jul 1914, William’s daughter Ruby married Lloyd E. Hawkins. Four years later, the church bells rang again on 21 Sep 1918 when William and Rosa’s daughter Olive married Grover Hickle.
The 1920 Census placed the family in Rochester, Fulton County. William Lunsford, aged 54, was noted as the manager of a farm. Rosa, aged 43, was keeping house. There with their parents were Marie (aka Mollie), aged 19, and Ray, aged 15.
Later that same year, daughter Mollie married Gilbert Leroy Corbett on 6 Oct 1920 in Rochester.
When the 1930 Census came around, the family was enumerated in Aubbeenaubbee Township in Fulton County. William Lunsford, aged 63, was noted as a truck farmer. Rosa, aged 53, was keeping house. Only 25-year-old son Ray was still at home with his parents.
Four years after that census, Ray married Clara Edith Cook on 9 Aug 1934 in Fulton Co., Indiana.
A few days after the wedding, the family had another happy gathering. (From: The Culver Citizen, Culver, IN – Wed 15 Aug 1934 pg. 8) “The 10th annual reunion of the Lunsford family was held Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln Overmyer at Bruce Lake, with 67 relatives and friends present. A basket dinner was held at the noon hour and the afternoon program consisted of contests and music. The following officers were elected: William Lunsford, of Kewanna, president; Frank Lunsford, South Bend, vice-president; and Mrs. Mae Kline, secretary and treasurer. The reunion will be held at the Centennial Park at Plymouth next year.”
And two months later, there were more festivities. (From: The Culver Citizen, Culver, IN – Wed 17 Oct 1934 pg. 7) “Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Corbett and son, Maurice, entertained on Sunday in honor of the birthday of the latter’s mother, Mrs. William Lunsford. Guests were Mr. and Mrs. Edward Corbett and family of Winamac, Miss Della Steinhiser, Abram Bruce, Harold Butts, and Mr. and Mrs. W. Lunsford.”
There were frequent get-togethers noted in the local papers about the Lunsfords, their siblings and their children. (From: The Culver Citizen, Culver, IN – Wed 16 Oct 1935 pg. 8) “Mr. and Mrs. Albert Corbett celebrated their fifteenth wedding anniversary Sunday, which was also the seventieth birthday of the latter’s father, William Lunsford, and the twenty-sixth birthday of Ray Lunsford. A large decorated cake formed the center piece. Guests were Mr. and Mrs. William Lunsford, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Lunsford, and daughter Virginia, Kewanna…”
The 1940 Census caught up with William, aged 74, and Rosa, aged 64 in their empty nest in Union Township in Fulton County.
Four years after that census, after almost forty-six years together, death parted the couple, claiming William on 3 Sep 1944, aged 78. (From: The Culver Citizen, Culver, IN – Wed 6 Sep 1944 pg. 8) “Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Corbett of South Bend were week end guests of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Moon and while at the Moon home, Mrs. Corbett learned of the sudden death of her father William Lunsford at his country home near Lake Bruce. Final rites were held at the Harrison funeral home Tuesday afternoon burial at Sharon or Moon cemetery.”
Rosa lived another eleven years, passing into the light on 7 Sep 1955, aged 80.
I found the family on the 1850 Census, living in Tippecanoe Township in Pulaski Co., Indiana. Hiram Lunsford, aged 32, was a farmer. Rebecca, aged 23, was tending to their home, which included daughters Emeline, aged 2, and Isabell, aged 3 months.
The couples next four children arrived on schedule every two years, all the children delivered in either February or March, except for Rebecca Jr., who arrived in January. Sadly, Rebecca Sr. died ten days after Rebecca Jr. was born. She was only 31, thirteen days shy of her thirty second birthday.
Hiram and the children appeared on the 1860 Census. Hiram, aged 42 widowed five months earlier, was busy with the farm. After her mother’s death, it had likely fallen to daughter Emeline, aged 12, to help with the household chores and the care of the four younger children—Jane (aka Isabell), aged 10, Horace, aged 8, Julia, aged 6, and Rebecca, aged 5 months.
With the welfare of five children hanging in the balance, Hiram had quickly remarried, wedding Sarah Ellen “Nellie” Hendrickson on or shortly after 9 Jul 1861 in Fulton Co., Indiana. It was also a second marriage for Ellen. She had previously married Peter Hendrickson on 5 Apr 1853 in Fulton County. Peter Hendrickson had also died in 1860, along with a seven-year-old son named Peter who was born in 1853.
Per Nellie on the 1910 Census, Hiram and Ellen/Nellie had five children together—Melinna “Linna” (22 Dec 1865 – 13 May 1946), William Moon (7 Oct 1865 – 3 Sep 1944), Frank M. (Oct 1869 – May 1939), Mollie Marie (12 Apr 1871 – 13 Nov 1941), and Martha “Mattie” (12 Oct 1873 – 9 Apr 1943).
Their blended family appeared together on the 1870 Census, living in Tippecanoe Township in Pulaski County. Hiram Lunsford (Lunsbury on the transcribed record), aged 56, was still actively farming. Ellen, aged 35, was keeping house. There with their father and step-mother/mother were Jane (aka Isabell), aged 21, Greely (aka Horace), aged 19, Julia, aged 16, Rebecca, aged 11, Linna, aged 6, William, aged 5, and Frank, aged 1.
The family was in the same place when the 1880 Census taker knocked on their door. Hiram Lunsford, aged 63, was still noted as a farmer. Nellie, aged 44, was keeping house. All of Hiram’s older children were out on their own. All five of Hiram and Nellie’s children were listed with their parents—Melinna, aged 15, William, aged 13, Frank, aged 11, Mollie (Mary on the record), aged 8, and Martha, aged 6.
Seven years after that census, William married first-wife Ida May Rarick on 10 Nov 1887 in Pulaski Co., Indiana. Ida was the daughter of Hiram Rarick and Lydia Culp (possibly Kulp). William and Ida welcomed daughter Ruby May on 27 Jul 1895. Sadly, two years later, Ida died on 2 May 1897 at age 32.
William mourned the loss of Ida for a year before deciding to remarry, exchanging vows with second-wife Rose "Rosa" Etta Elmerick on 30 Nov 1898 in Pulaski Co., Indiana. William and Rose had three children together—Olive (24 Feb 1900 – 15 Jul 1921), Mollie Marie (13 Jan 1902 – 21 Jan 1977), and Hiram Ray (16 Apr 1904 – 30 Oct 1987).
William and Rosa (seemed to use rather than Rose) appeared together on the 1900 Census, living in Aubbeenaubbee Township in Fulton Co., Indiana. William Lunsford, aged 35, was noted as a day laborer. Rosa, aged 22, reported that she had had one child, who was still living. Indeed, daughter Olive had been born four months earlier. It is unclear why Olive wasn’t listed with her parents on that record, or why William’s daughter Ruby was also a no-show.
The 1910 Census had them together, living in Union Township in Fulton County. William Lunsford, aged 44, was doing farm labor. Rosa, aged 32, reported that she had had three children, all of them still living. There with them were William’s daughter Ruby, aged 15, and Rosa’s three children with William, Olive, aged 10, Marie (aka Mollie), aged 8, and Ray, aged 6.
On 8 Jul 1914, William’s daughter Ruby married Lloyd E. Hawkins. Four years later, the church bells rang again on 21 Sep 1918 when William and Rosa’s daughter Olive married Grover Hickle.
The 1920 Census placed the family in Rochester, Fulton County. William Lunsford, aged 54, was noted as the manager of a farm. Rosa, aged 43, was keeping house. There with their parents were Marie (aka Mollie), aged 19, and Ray, aged 15.
Later that same year, daughter Mollie married Gilbert Leroy Corbett on 6 Oct 1920 in Rochester.
When the 1930 Census came around, the family was enumerated in Aubbeenaubbee Township in Fulton County. William Lunsford, aged 63, was noted as a truck farmer. Rosa, aged 53, was keeping house. Only 25-year-old son Ray was still at home with his parents.
Four years after that census, Ray married Clara Edith Cook on 9 Aug 1934 in Fulton Co., Indiana.
A few days after the wedding, the family had another happy gathering. (From: The Culver Citizen, Culver, IN – Wed 15 Aug 1934 pg. 8) “The 10th annual reunion of the Lunsford family was held Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln Overmyer at Bruce Lake, with 67 relatives and friends present. A basket dinner was held at the noon hour and the afternoon program consisted of contests and music. The following officers were elected: William Lunsford, of Kewanna, president; Frank Lunsford, South Bend, vice-president; and Mrs. Mae Kline, secretary and treasurer. The reunion will be held at the Centennial Park at Plymouth next year.”
And two months later, there were more festivities. (From: The Culver Citizen, Culver, IN – Wed 17 Oct 1934 pg. 7) “Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Corbett and son, Maurice, entertained on Sunday in honor of the birthday of the latter’s mother, Mrs. William Lunsford. Guests were Mr. and Mrs. Edward Corbett and family of Winamac, Miss Della Steinhiser, Abram Bruce, Harold Butts, and Mr. and Mrs. W. Lunsford.”
There were frequent get-togethers noted in the local papers about the Lunsfords, their siblings and their children. (From: The Culver Citizen, Culver, IN – Wed 16 Oct 1935 pg. 8) “Mr. and Mrs. Albert Corbett celebrated their fifteenth wedding anniversary Sunday, which was also the seventieth birthday of the latter’s father, William Lunsford, and the twenty-sixth birthday of Ray Lunsford. A large decorated cake formed the center piece. Guests were Mr. and Mrs. William Lunsford, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Lunsford, and daughter Virginia, Kewanna…”
The 1940 Census caught up with William, aged 74, and Rosa, aged 64 in their empty nest in Union Township in Fulton County.
Four years after that census, after almost forty-six years together, death parted the couple, claiming William on 3 Sep 1944, aged 78. (From: The Culver Citizen, Culver, IN – Wed 6 Sep 1944 pg. 8) “Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Corbett of South Bend were week end guests of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Moon and while at the Moon home, Mrs. Corbett learned of the sudden death of her father William Lunsford at his country home near Lake Bruce. Final rites were held at the Harrison funeral home Tuesday afternoon burial at Sharon or Moon cemetery.”
Rosa lived another eleven years, passing into the light on 7 Sep 1955, aged 80.
William was the son of Hiram Lunsford and his second-wife Sarah Ellen “Nellie” Hendrickson (nee Moon), who married on 5 Apr 1853 in Fulton Co., Indiana. William’s father Hiram had first married Rebecca Ann Moore on 20 Feb 1845 in Fulton County, and they had seven children together—Caroline (b. ca. 1846), Emeline P. (26 Feb 1848 – 6 Jun 1863), Isabell Jane (12 Mar 1850 – 5 Jul 1915), Horace Greely (1 Feb 1852 – 27 Feb 1913), Julia Francis (15 Feb 1854 – 25 Jul 1925), Maria D. (5 Mar 1858 – 26 Aug 1859), and Rebecca Jr. (28 Jan 1860 – 1 Jul 1904).
I found the family on the 1850 Census, living in Tippecanoe Township in Pulaski Co., Indiana. Hiram Lunsford, aged 32, was a farmer. Rebecca, aged 23, was tending to their home, which included daughters Emeline, aged 2, and Isabell, aged 3 months.
The couples next four children arrived on schedule every two years, all the children delivered in either February or March, except for Rebecca Jr., who arrived in January. Sadly, Rebecca Sr. died ten days after Rebecca Jr. was born. She was only 31, thirteen days shy of her thirty second birthday.
Hiram and the children appeared on the 1860 Census. Hiram, aged 42 widowed five months earlier, was busy with the farm. After her mother’s death, it had likely fallen to daughter Emeline, aged 12, to help with the household chores and the care of the four younger children—Jane (aka Isabell), aged 10, Horace, aged 8, Julia, aged 6, and Rebecca, aged 5 months.
With the welfare of five children hanging in the balance, Hiram had quickly remarried, wedding Sarah Ellen “Nellie” Hendrickson on or shortly after 9 Jul 1861 in Fulton Co., Indiana. It was also a second marriage for Ellen. She had previously married Peter Hendrickson on 5 Apr 1853 in Fulton County. Peter Hendrickson had also died in 1860, along with a seven-year-old son named Peter who was born in 1853.
Per Nellie on the 1910 Census, Hiram and Ellen/Nellie had five children together—Melinna “Linna” (22 Dec 1865 – 13 May 1946), William Moon (7 Oct 1865 – 3 Sep 1944), Frank M. (Oct 1869 – May 1939), Mollie Marie (12 Apr 1871 – 13 Nov 1941), and Martha “Mattie” (12 Oct 1873 – 9 Apr 1943).
Their blended family appeared together on the 1870 Census, living in Tippecanoe Township in Pulaski County. Hiram Lunsford (Lunsbury on the transcribed record), aged 56, was still actively farming. Ellen, aged 35, was keeping house. There with their father and step-mother/mother were Jane (aka Isabell), aged 21, Greely (aka Horace), aged 19, Julia, aged 16, Rebecca, aged 11, Linna, aged 6, William, aged 5, and Frank, aged 1.
The family was in the same place when the 1880 Census taker knocked on their door. Hiram Lunsford, aged 63, was still noted as a farmer. Nellie, aged 44, was keeping house. All of Hiram’s older children were out on their own. All five of Hiram and Nellie’s children were listed with their parents—Melinna, aged 15, William, aged 13, Frank, aged 11, Mollie (Mary on the record), aged 8, and Martha, aged 6.
Seven years after that census, William married first-wife Ida May Rarick on 10 Nov 1887 in Pulaski Co., Indiana. Ida was the daughter of Hiram Rarick and Lydia Culp (possibly Kulp). William and Ida welcomed daughter Ruby May on 27 Jul 1895. Sadly, two years later, Ida died on 2 May 1897 at age 32.
William mourned the loss of Ida for a year before deciding to remarry, exchanging vows with second-wife Rose "Rosa" Etta Elmerick on 30 Nov 1898 in Pulaski Co., Indiana. William and Rose had three children together—Olive (24 Feb 1900 – 15 Jul 1921), Mollie Marie (13 Jan 1902 – 21 Jan 1977), and Hiram Ray (16 Apr 1904 – 30 Oct 1987).
William and Rosa (seemed to use rather than Rose) appeared together on the 1900 Census, living in Aubbeenaubbee Township in Fulton Co., Indiana. William Lunsford, aged 35, was noted as a day laborer. Rosa, aged 22, reported that she had had one child, who was still living. Indeed, daughter Olive had been born four months earlier. It is unclear why Olive wasn’t listed with her parents on that record, or why William’s daughter Ruby was also a no-show.
The 1910 Census had them together, living in Union Township in Fulton County. William Lunsford, aged 44, was doing farm labor. Rosa, aged 32, reported that she had had three children, all of them still living. There with them were William’s daughter Ruby, aged 15, and Rosa’s three children with William, Olive, aged 10, Marie (aka Mollie), aged 8, and Ray, aged 6.
On 8 Jul 1914, William’s daughter Ruby married Lloyd E. Hawkins. Four years later, the church bells rang again on 21 Sep 1918 when William and Rosa’s daughter Olive married Grover Hickle.
The 1920 Census placed the family in Rochester, Fulton County. William Lunsford, aged 54, was noted as the manager of a farm. Rosa, aged 43, was keeping house. There with their parents were Marie (aka Mollie), aged 19, and Ray, aged 15.
Later that same year, daughter Mollie married Gilbert Leroy Corbett on 6 Oct 1920 in Rochester.
When the 1930 Census came around, the family was enumerated in Aubbeenaubbee Township in Fulton County. William Lunsford, aged 63, was noted as a truck farmer. Rosa, aged 53, was keeping house. Only 25-year-old son Ray was still at home with his parents.
Four years after that census, Ray married Clara Edith Cook on 9 Aug 1934 in Fulton Co., Indiana.
A few days after the wedding, the family had another happy gathering. (From: The Culver Citizen, Culver, IN – Wed 15 Aug 1934 pg. 8) “The 10th annual reunion of the Lunsford family was held Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln Overmyer at Bruce Lake, with 67 relatives and friends present. A basket dinner was held at the noon hour and the afternoon program consisted of contests and music. The following officers were elected: William Lunsford, of Kewanna, president; Frank Lunsford, South Bend, vice-president; and Mrs. Mae Kline, secretary and treasurer. The reunion will be held at the Centennial Park at Plymouth next year.”
And two months later, there were more festivities. (From: The Culver Citizen, Culver, IN – Wed 17 Oct 1934 pg. 7) “Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Corbett and son, Maurice, entertained on Sunday in honor of the birthday of the latter’s mother, Mrs. William Lunsford. Guests were Mr. and Mrs. Edward Corbett and family of Winamac, Miss Della Steinhiser, Abram Bruce, Harold Butts, and Mr. and Mrs. W. Lunsford.”
There were frequent get-togethers noted in the local papers about the Lunsfords, their siblings and their children. (From: The Culver Citizen, Culver, IN – Wed 16 Oct 1935 pg. 8) “Mr. and Mrs. Albert Corbett celebrated their fifteenth wedding anniversary Sunday, which was also the seventieth birthday of the latter’s father, William Lunsford, and the twenty-sixth birthday of Ray Lunsford. A large decorated cake formed the center piece. Guests were Mr. and Mrs. William Lunsford, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Lunsford, and daughter Virginia, Kewanna…”
The 1940 Census caught up with William, aged 74, and Rosa, aged 64 in their empty nest in Union Township in Fulton County.
Four years after that census, after almost forty-six years together, death parted the couple, claiming William on 3 Sep 1944, aged 78. (From: The Culver Citizen, Culver, IN – Wed 6 Sep 1944 pg. 8) “Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Corbett of South Bend were week end guests of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Moon and while at the Moon home, Mrs. Corbett learned of the sudden death of her father William Lunsford at his country home near Lake Bruce. Final rites were held at the Harrison funeral home Tuesday afternoon burial at Sharon or Moon cemetery.”
Rosa lived another eleven years, passing into the light on 7 Sep 1955, aged 80.
I found the family on the 1850 Census, living in Tippecanoe Township in Pulaski Co., Indiana. Hiram Lunsford, aged 32, was a farmer. Rebecca, aged 23, was tending to their home, which included daughters Emeline, aged 2, and Isabell, aged 3 months.
The couples next four children arrived on schedule every two years, all the children delivered in either February or March, except for Rebecca Jr., who arrived in January. Sadly, Rebecca Sr. died ten days after Rebecca Jr. was born. She was only 31, thirteen days shy of her thirty second birthday.
Hiram and the children appeared on the 1860 Census. Hiram, aged 42 widowed five months earlier, was busy with the farm. After her mother’s death, it had likely fallen to daughter Emeline, aged 12, to help with the household chores and the care of the four younger children—Jane (aka Isabell), aged 10, Horace, aged 8, Julia, aged 6, and Rebecca, aged 5 months.
With the welfare of five children hanging in the balance, Hiram had quickly remarried, wedding Sarah Ellen “Nellie” Hendrickson on or shortly after 9 Jul 1861 in Fulton Co., Indiana. It was also a second marriage for Ellen. She had previously married Peter Hendrickson on 5 Apr 1853 in Fulton County. Peter Hendrickson had also died in 1860, along with a seven-year-old son named Peter who was born in 1853.
Per Nellie on the 1910 Census, Hiram and Ellen/Nellie had five children together—Melinna “Linna” (22 Dec 1865 – 13 May 1946), William Moon (7 Oct 1865 – 3 Sep 1944), Frank M. (Oct 1869 – May 1939), Mollie Marie (12 Apr 1871 – 13 Nov 1941), and Martha “Mattie” (12 Oct 1873 – 9 Apr 1943).
Their blended family appeared together on the 1870 Census, living in Tippecanoe Township in Pulaski County. Hiram Lunsford (Lunsbury on the transcribed record), aged 56, was still actively farming. Ellen, aged 35, was keeping house. There with their father and step-mother/mother were Jane (aka Isabell), aged 21, Greely (aka Horace), aged 19, Julia, aged 16, Rebecca, aged 11, Linna, aged 6, William, aged 5, and Frank, aged 1.
The family was in the same place when the 1880 Census taker knocked on their door. Hiram Lunsford, aged 63, was still noted as a farmer. Nellie, aged 44, was keeping house. All of Hiram’s older children were out on their own. All five of Hiram and Nellie’s children were listed with their parents—Melinna, aged 15, William, aged 13, Frank, aged 11, Mollie (Mary on the record), aged 8, and Martha, aged 6.
Seven years after that census, William married first-wife Ida May Rarick on 10 Nov 1887 in Pulaski Co., Indiana. Ida was the daughter of Hiram Rarick and Lydia Culp (possibly Kulp). William and Ida welcomed daughter Ruby May on 27 Jul 1895. Sadly, two years later, Ida died on 2 May 1897 at age 32.
William mourned the loss of Ida for a year before deciding to remarry, exchanging vows with second-wife Rose "Rosa" Etta Elmerick on 30 Nov 1898 in Pulaski Co., Indiana. William and Rose had three children together—Olive (24 Feb 1900 – 15 Jul 1921), Mollie Marie (13 Jan 1902 – 21 Jan 1977), and Hiram Ray (16 Apr 1904 – 30 Oct 1987).
William and Rosa (seemed to use rather than Rose) appeared together on the 1900 Census, living in Aubbeenaubbee Township in Fulton Co., Indiana. William Lunsford, aged 35, was noted as a day laborer. Rosa, aged 22, reported that she had had one child, who was still living. Indeed, daughter Olive had been born four months earlier. It is unclear why Olive wasn’t listed with her parents on that record, or why William’s daughter Ruby was also a no-show.
The 1910 Census had them together, living in Union Township in Fulton County. William Lunsford, aged 44, was doing farm labor. Rosa, aged 32, reported that she had had three children, all of them still living. There with them were William’s daughter Ruby, aged 15, and Rosa’s three children with William, Olive, aged 10, Marie (aka Mollie), aged 8, and Ray, aged 6.
On 8 Jul 1914, William’s daughter Ruby married Lloyd E. Hawkins. Four years later, the church bells rang again on 21 Sep 1918 when William and Rosa’s daughter Olive married Grover Hickle.
The 1920 Census placed the family in Rochester, Fulton County. William Lunsford, aged 54, was noted as the manager of a farm. Rosa, aged 43, was keeping house. There with their parents were Marie (aka Mollie), aged 19, and Ray, aged 15.
Later that same year, daughter Mollie married Gilbert Leroy Corbett on 6 Oct 1920 in Rochester.
When the 1930 Census came around, the family was enumerated in Aubbeenaubbee Township in Fulton County. William Lunsford, aged 63, was noted as a truck farmer. Rosa, aged 53, was keeping house. Only 25-year-old son Ray was still at home with his parents.
Four years after that census, Ray married Clara Edith Cook on 9 Aug 1934 in Fulton Co., Indiana.
A few days after the wedding, the family had another happy gathering. (From: The Culver Citizen, Culver, IN – Wed 15 Aug 1934 pg. 8) “The 10th annual reunion of the Lunsford family was held Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln Overmyer at Bruce Lake, with 67 relatives and friends present. A basket dinner was held at the noon hour and the afternoon program consisted of contests and music. The following officers were elected: William Lunsford, of Kewanna, president; Frank Lunsford, South Bend, vice-president; and Mrs. Mae Kline, secretary and treasurer. The reunion will be held at the Centennial Park at Plymouth next year.”
And two months later, there were more festivities. (From: The Culver Citizen, Culver, IN – Wed 17 Oct 1934 pg. 7) “Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Corbett and son, Maurice, entertained on Sunday in honor of the birthday of the latter’s mother, Mrs. William Lunsford. Guests were Mr. and Mrs. Edward Corbett and family of Winamac, Miss Della Steinhiser, Abram Bruce, Harold Butts, and Mr. and Mrs. W. Lunsford.”
There were frequent get-togethers noted in the local papers about the Lunsfords, their siblings and their children. (From: The Culver Citizen, Culver, IN – Wed 16 Oct 1935 pg. 8) “Mr. and Mrs. Albert Corbett celebrated their fifteenth wedding anniversary Sunday, which was also the seventieth birthday of the latter’s father, William Lunsford, and the twenty-sixth birthday of Ray Lunsford. A large decorated cake formed the center piece. Guests were Mr. and Mrs. William Lunsford, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Lunsford, and daughter Virginia, Kewanna…”
The 1940 Census caught up with William, aged 74, and Rosa, aged 64 in their empty nest in Union Township in Fulton County.
Four years after that census, after almost forty-six years together, death parted the couple, claiming William on 3 Sep 1944, aged 78. (From: The Culver Citizen, Culver, IN – Wed 6 Sep 1944 pg. 8) “Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Corbett of South Bend were week end guests of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Moon and while at the Moon home, Mrs. Corbett learned of the sudden death of her father William Lunsford at his country home near Lake Bruce. Final rites were held at the Harrison funeral home Tuesday afternoon burial at Sharon or Moon cemetery.”
Rosa lived another eleven years, passing into the light on 7 Sep 1955, aged 80.
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