George Glen Rager was born on November 27, 1900 in Hoaglin Township of Van Wert County. His parents were Harry Edgar (1873-1971) and Luella "Ellie" Mary (Woten) Rager (1875-1904). George was the third of five children of Harry and Ellie; Elvin, Ervin, George, Edna, and Clara.
When George was three years old, his mother died four weeks after giving birth to Clara. Ellie was just 28 years old. Elizabeth "Eliza" (Woten) Shaw, Ellie's oldest sister, took Clara to raise in her own household to help Harry manage. About 10 months after Ellie's death, Harry married another of Ellie's sisters, Mary. She was the widow of Harry's deceased brother, Charles "Charley" Rager. George's aunt had become his mother.
The children of Charley and Mary; Flossie, Ezra, and Ira went to live with Mary's parents, Alex and Jane Woten, in neighboring Jackson Township. George's sister, Edna, died in 1906 at the age of three. This left Harry and Mary at home with Elvin, Ervin, and George. Harry and Mary had two children together; Golda "Goldie" and Emma. Mary died at the age of 35 just six days after giving birth to Emma. George was seven years old. In less than four years, he had lost two mothers and a sister.
Harry was a widower again, this time with five children under the age of 12 including an infant to raise. In the 1910 census, it is shown that a widow, Lena Bame, and her daughter, Edna, were living in the Rager household with Lena listed as a "servant". Like his father and grandfathers before him, Harry was a farmer. Harry's farm was in Section 15 of the township on what is today Hoaglin Center Road. He no doubt put his boys; Elvin, Ervin, and George to work on the farm at a young age.
When George was 12, his father married Cora Belle (Leady) Lape, a widow with three children; Flossie, Violet, and John Jr. Harry and Cora had two children together; Reva and Otis. George's family now consisted of three full-siblings (Elvin, Ervin, and Clara), four half-siblings (Golda, Emma, Otis, and Reva), and six step-siblings (Flossie, Ezra, Ira, Flossie, Violet, and John Jr.).
George had been born before mass production of the automobile or the invention of the airplane. He grew up in a home with no electricity and attended the Hoaglin Township No. 8 one-room "Wagner School" through the eighth grade. When in his teens, his father gave him a horse and he farmed for a couple of years. He then learned the trade of baking while working at the Grover Hill, Ohio restaurant of O.W. "Tim" and Laura Wright. While in Grover Hill he became acquainted with Laura's younger sister, Leota Mae Sutton. Leota had been raised on a farm near Grover Hill in Paulding County.
George married Leota on September 22, 1921. Leota delivered their first child, Helen Arline, in 1922 while she and George were living on the Sutton farm. Later that year, George moved his young family to Convoy, Ohio in a Ford Model T Touring car. They had their clothes and five dollars in cash. He was 21 and Leota was 19 years old.
George had purchased a bakery in Convoy with money loaned by his uncle. George, Leota, and daughter Arline moved into an unfurnished apartment above their new business. Another daughter, Vera Marcile, was born the following year.
In just a few years, George grew his business by concentrating on the baking and distributing of bread. There were times when bread was being baked 24 hours per day and amounted to approximately 5,000 loaves produced per week. George purchased a machine to slice and wrap his bread after its invention in 1928. He had several bread trucks on the road at one time making door-to-door deliveries under the "Blue Bird" label. He helped his business survive the Great Depression of the 1930s by selling 1 1/2 pound loaves of bread for just 5 cents each.
In the late 1920s, George had a house built on South Main Street in Convoy for his family complete with a four-bay garage for his bread delivery trucks. During the 1930's, George and Leota helped raise Ray and Wayne Fox, the young sons of Leota's deceased sister, Evelyn. George's half-brother, Otis, had died in January 1921 at the age of five. Then, in July 1942, his half-sister Reva died leaving three young children without a mother. George and Leota later adopted the youngest child, William "Billy" Eugene Brubaker, when he was about one year old.
George purchased a Taylorcraft airplane and served as a pilot for the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) in its infancy during World War II. The Ohio Wing of the CAP was the third largest in the nation. After the war, George sold his bakery to daughter Arline and her new husband, Godfrey Rogers. George co-owned and operated a plumbing and electric business in Convoy for a couple of years before returning to his roots by purchasing and working two 40-acre farms.
Leota died on June 8, 1974 at the age of 71. George remarried on February 6, 1975 to Almeda (Hoffer) Baker when he was 74. He then sold his house in Convoy and relocated to Van Wert. He became active in the Lions, Senior Citizens, and Mens' Garden Clubs during his "retirement". George enjoyed working on puzzles and spending time with his extended family. He also reserved time to make doughnuts for a Van Wert convenience store during his final years. George passed away quietly in the Convoy home of his daughter, Arline, days shy of his 92nd birthday on November 19, 1992.
When George was three years old, his mother died four weeks after giving birth to Clara. Ellie was just 28 years old. Elizabeth "Eliza" (Woten) Shaw, Ellie's oldest sister, took Clara to raise in her own household to help Harry manage. About 10 months after Ellie's death, Harry married another of Ellie's sisters, Mary. She was the widow of Harry's deceased brother, Charles "Charley" Rager. George's aunt had become his mother.
The children of Charley and Mary; Flossie, Ezra, and Ira went to live with Mary's parents, Alex and Jane Woten, in neighboring Jackson Township. George's sister, Edna, died in 1906 at the age of three. This left Harry and Mary at home with Elvin, Ervin, and George. Harry and Mary had two children together; Golda "Goldie" and Emma. Mary died at the age of 35 just six days after giving birth to Emma. George was seven years old. In less than four years, he had lost two mothers and a sister.
Harry was a widower again, this time with five children under the age of 12 including an infant to raise. In the 1910 census, it is shown that a widow, Lena Bame, and her daughter, Edna, were living in the Rager household with Lena listed as a "servant". Like his father and grandfathers before him, Harry was a farmer. Harry's farm was in Section 15 of the township on what is today Hoaglin Center Road. He no doubt put his boys; Elvin, Ervin, and George to work on the farm at a young age.
When George was 12, his father married Cora Belle (Leady) Lape, a widow with three children; Flossie, Violet, and John Jr. Harry and Cora had two children together; Reva and Otis. George's family now consisted of three full-siblings (Elvin, Ervin, and Clara), four half-siblings (Golda, Emma, Otis, and Reva), and six step-siblings (Flossie, Ezra, Ira, Flossie, Violet, and John Jr.).
George had been born before mass production of the automobile or the invention of the airplane. He grew up in a home with no electricity and attended the Hoaglin Township No. 8 one-room "Wagner School" through the eighth grade. When in his teens, his father gave him a horse and he farmed for a couple of years. He then learned the trade of baking while working at the Grover Hill, Ohio restaurant of O.W. "Tim" and Laura Wright. While in Grover Hill he became acquainted with Laura's younger sister, Leota Mae Sutton. Leota had been raised on a farm near Grover Hill in Paulding County.
George married Leota on September 22, 1921. Leota delivered their first child, Helen Arline, in 1922 while she and George were living on the Sutton farm. Later that year, George moved his young family to Convoy, Ohio in a Ford Model T Touring car. They had their clothes and five dollars in cash. He was 21 and Leota was 19 years old.
George had purchased a bakery in Convoy with money loaned by his uncle. George, Leota, and daughter Arline moved into an unfurnished apartment above their new business. Another daughter, Vera Marcile, was born the following year.
In just a few years, George grew his business by concentrating on the baking and distributing of bread. There were times when bread was being baked 24 hours per day and amounted to approximately 5,000 loaves produced per week. George purchased a machine to slice and wrap his bread after its invention in 1928. He had several bread trucks on the road at one time making door-to-door deliveries under the "Blue Bird" label. He helped his business survive the Great Depression of the 1930s by selling 1 1/2 pound loaves of bread for just 5 cents each.
In the late 1920s, George had a house built on South Main Street in Convoy for his family complete with a four-bay garage for his bread delivery trucks. During the 1930's, George and Leota helped raise Ray and Wayne Fox, the young sons of Leota's deceased sister, Evelyn. George's half-brother, Otis, had died in January 1921 at the age of five. Then, in July 1942, his half-sister Reva died leaving three young children without a mother. George and Leota later adopted the youngest child, William "Billy" Eugene Brubaker, when he was about one year old.
George purchased a Taylorcraft airplane and served as a pilot for the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) in its infancy during World War II. The Ohio Wing of the CAP was the third largest in the nation. After the war, George sold his bakery to daughter Arline and her new husband, Godfrey Rogers. George co-owned and operated a plumbing and electric business in Convoy for a couple of years before returning to his roots by purchasing and working two 40-acre farms.
Leota died on June 8, 1974 at the age of 71. George remarried on February 6, 1975 to Almeda (Hoffer) Baker when he was 74. He then sold his house in Convoy and relocated to Van Wert. He became active in the Lions, Senior Citizens, and Mens' Garden Clubs during his "retirement". George enjoyed working on puzzles and spending time with his extended family. He also reserved time to make doughnuts for a Van Wert convenience store during his final years. George passed away quietly in the Convoy home of his daughter, Arline, days shy of his 92nd birthday on November 19, 1992.
George Glen Rager was born on November 27, 1900 in Hoaglin Township of Van Wert County. His parents were Harry Edgar (1873-1971) and Luella "Ellie" Mary (Woten) Rager (1875-1904). George was the third of five children of Harry and Ellie; Elvin, Ervin, George, Edna, and Clara.
When George was three years old, his mother died four weeks after giving birth to Clara. Ellie was just 28 years old. Elizabeth "Eliza" (Woten) Shaw, Ellie's oldest sister, took Clara to raise in her own household to help Harry manage. About 10 months after Ellie's death, Harry married another of Ellie's sisters, Mary. She was the widow of Harry's deceased brother, Charles "Charley" Rager. George's aunt had become his mother.
The children of Charley and Mary; Flossie, Ezra, and Ira went to live with Mary's parents, Alex and Jane Woten, in neighboring Jackson Township. George's sister, Edna, died in 1906 at the age of three. This left Harry and Mary at home with Elvin, Ervin, and George. Harry and Mary had two children together; Golda "Goldie" and Emma. Mary died at the age of 35 just six days after giving birth to Emma. George was seven years old. In less than four years, he had lost two mothers and a sister.
Harry was a widower again, this time with five children under the age of 12 including an infant to raise. In the 1910 census, it is shown that a widow, Lena Bame, and her daughter, Edna, were living in the Rager household with Lena listed as a "servant". Like his father and grandfathers before him, Harry was a farmer. Harry's farm was in Section 15 of the township on what is today Hoaglin Center Road. He no doubt put his boys; Elvin, Ervin, and George to work on the farm at a young age.
When George was 12, his father married Cora Belle (Leady) Lape, a widow with three children; Flossie, Violet, and John Jr. Harry and Cora had two children together; Reva and Otis. George's family now consisted of three full-siblings (Elvin, Ervin, and Clara), four half-siblings (Golda, Emma, Otis, and Reva), and six step-siblings (Flossie, Ezra, Ira, Flossie, Violet, and John Jr.).
George had been born before mass production of the automobile or the invention of the airplane. He grew up in a home with no electricity and attended the Hoaglin Township No. 8 one-room "Wagner School" through the eighth grade. When in his teens, his father gave him a horse and he farmed for a couple of years. He then learned the trade of baking while working at the Grover Hill, Ohio restaurant of O.W. "Tim" and Laura Wright. While in Grover Hill he became acquainted with Laura's younger sister, Leota Mae Sutton. Leota had been raised on a farm near Grover Hill in Paulding County.
George married Leota on September 22, 1921. Leota delivered their first child, Helen Arline, in 1922 while she and George were living on the Sutton farm. Later that year, George moved his young family to Convoy, Ohio in a Ford Model T Touring car. They had their clothes and five dollars in cash. He was 21 and Leota was 19 years old.
George had purchased a bakery in Convoy with money loaned by his uncle. George, Leota, and daughter Arline moved into an unfurnished apartment above their new business. Another daughter, Vera Marcile, was born the following year.
In just a few years, George grew his business by concentrating on the baking and distributing of bread. There were times when bread was being baked 24 hours per day and amounted to approximately 5,000 loaves produced per week. George purchased a machine to slice and wrap his bread after its invention in 1928. He had several bread trucks on the road at one time making door-to-door deliveries under the "Blue Bird" label. He helped his business survive the Great Depression of the 1930s by selling 1 1/2 pound loaves of bread for just 5 cents each.
In the late 1920s, George had a house built on South Main Street in Convoy for his family complete with a four-bay garage for his bread delivery trucks. During the 1930's, George and Leota helped raise Ray and Wayne Fox, the young sons of Leota's deceased sister, Evelyn. George's half-brother, Otis, had died in January 1921 at the age of five. Then, in July 1942, his half-sister Reva died leaving three young children without a mother. George and Leota later adopted the youngest child, William "Billy" Eugene Brubaker, when he was about one year old.
George purchased a Taylorcraft airplane and served as a pilot for the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) in its infancy during World War II. The Ohio Wing of the CAP was the third largest in the nation. After the war, George sold his bakery to daughter Arline and her new husband, Godfrey Rogers. George co-owned and operated a plumbing and electric business in Convoy for a couple of years before returning to his roots by purchasing and working two 40-acre farms.
Leota died on June 8, 1974 at the age of 71. George remarried on February 6, 1975 to Almeda (Hoffer) Baker when he was 74. He then sold his house in Convoy and relocated to Van Wert. He became active in the Lions, Senior Citizens, and Mens' Garden Clubs during his "retirement". George enjoyed working on puzzles and spending time with his extended family. He also reserved time to make doughnuts for a Van Wert convenience store during his final years. George passed away quietly in the Convoy home of his daughter, Arline, days shy of his 92nd birthday on November 19, 1992.
When George was three years old, his mother died four weeks after giving birth to Clara. Ellie was just 28 years old. Elizabeth "Eliza" (Woten) Shaw, Ellie's oldest sister, took Clara to raise in her own household to help Harry manage. About 10 months after Ellie's death, Harry married another of Ellie's sisters, Mary. She was the widow of Harry's deceased brother, Charles "Charley" Rager. George's aunt had become his mother.
The children of Charley and Mary; Flossie, Ezra, and Ira went to live with Mary's parents, Alex and Jane Woten, in neighboring Jackson Township. George's sister, Edna, died in 1906 at the age of three. This left Harry and Mary at home with Elvin, Ervin, and George. Harry and Mary had two children together; Golda "Goldie" and Emma. Mary died at the age of 35 just six days after giving birth to Emma. George was seven years old. In less than four years, he had lost two mothers and a sister.
Harry was a widower again, this time with five children under the age of 12 including an infant to raise. In the 1910 census, it is shown that a widow, Lena Bame, and her daughter, Edna, were living in the Rager household with Lena listed as a "servant". Like his father and grandfathers before him, Harry was a farmer. Harry's farm was in Section 15 of the township on what is today Hoaglin Center Road. He no doubt put his boys; Elvin, Ervin, and George to work on the farm at a young age.
When George was 12, his father married Cora Belle (Leady) Lape, a widow with three children; Flossie, Violet, and John Jr. Harry and Cora had two children together; Reva and Otis. George's family now consisted of three full-siblings (Elvin, Ervin, and Clara), four half-siblings (Golda, Emma, Otis, and Reva), and six step-siblings (Flossie, Ezra, Ira, Flossie, Violet, and John Jr.).
George had been born before mass production of the automobile or the invention of the airplane. He grew up in a home with no electricity and attended the Hoaglin Township No. 8 one-room "Wagner School" through the eighth grade. When in his teens, his father gave him a horse and he farmed for a couple of years. He then learned the trade of baking while working at the Grover Hill, Ohio restaurant of O.W. "Tim" and Laura Wright. While in Grover Hill he became acquainted with Laura's younger sister, Leota Mae Sutton. Leota had been raised on a farm near Grover Hill in Paulding County.
George married Leota on September 22, 1921. Leota delivered their first child, Helen Arline, in 1922 while she and George were living on the Sutton farm. Later that year, George moved his young family to Convoy, Ohio in a Ford Model T Touring car. They had their clothes and five dollars in cash. He was 21 and Leota was 19 years old.
George had purchased a bakery in Convoy with money loaned by his uncle. George, Leota, and daughter Arline moved into an unfurnished apartment above their new business. Another daughter, Vera Marcile, was born the following year.
In just a few years, George grew his business by concentrating on the baking and distributing of bread. There were times when bread was being baked 24 hours per day and amounted to approximately 5,000 loaves produced per week. George purchased a machine to slice and wrap his bread after its invention in 1928. He had several bread trucks on the road at one time making door-to-door deliveries under the "Blue Bird" label. He helped his business survive the Great Depression of the 1930s by selling 1 1/2 pound loaves of bread for just 5 cents each.
In the late 1920s, George had a house built on South Main Street in Convoy for his family complete with a four-bay garage for his bread delivery trucks. During the 1930's, George and Leota helped raise Ray and Wayne Fox, the young sons of Leota's deceased sister, Evelyn. George's half-brother, Otis, had died in January 1921 at the age of five. Then, in July 1942, his half-sister Reva died leaving three young children without a mother. George and Leota later adopted the youngest child, William "Billy" Eugene Brubaker, when he was about one year old.
George purchased a Taylorcraft airplane and served as a pilot for the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) in its infancy during World War II. The Ohio Wing of the CAP was the third largest in the nation. After the war, George sold his bakery to daughter Arline and her new husband, Godfrey Rogers. George co-owned and operated a plumbing and electric business in Convoy for a couple of years before returning to his roots by purchasing and working two 40-acre farms.
Leota died on June 8, 1974 at the age of 71. George remarried on February 6, 1975 to Almeda (Hoffer) Baker when he was 74. He then sold his house in Convoy and relocated to Van Wert. He became active in the Lions, Senior Citizens, and Mens' Garden Clubs during his "retirement". George enjoyed working on puzzles and spending time with his extended family. He also reserved time to make doughnuts for a Van Wert convenience store during his final years. George passed away quietly in the Convoy home of his daughter, Arline, days shy of his 92nd birthday on November 19, 1992.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
