Francis Marion Wampler was my grandmother's grandfather. He was a dignified, refined man with progressive and interesting opinions, and quixotic foibles. He was handsome, even into old age, and I suspect something of a ladies' man. His later wives were significantly younger than he and Frank became younger, too, on census and other records; a small vanity on his part.
On October 31, 1880 Frank married first a preacher's daughter from a prominent, well-educated local family that included Union veterans of the Civil War. Martha A. Wadsworth was the mother of his five children. Sadly, both their sons, Edgar and Arthur, died in infancy. Martha and their boys are all buried in Raglesville/Mt. Joy Cemetery in Indiana surrounded by her kin. Their three daughters, Edna, Jessie and Vonda lived long, full lives.
After Martha died in 1902, Frank married second Emma May Ward on December 6, 1904 in Greene County. Our family long believed that Emma died in about 1929. You can imagine my surprise when I discovered that Emma lived until 1956. Who can know what destroys a marriage of almost 25 years, but Frank filed for divorce in October 1924, in Greene County, Indiana, a fact that would have been an excruciating embarrassment to a man of his temperament and background.
Frank married once more. The 1930 census shows Frank and his wife, Ella, living in Plano, Illinois southwest of Chicago. From there they moved to the environs of Dayton, Ohio. He and Ella were actually married on Sept. 1, 1931 in West Manchester, Preble, Ohio by a justice of the peace. They lived in West Alexandria (not the same place) until Frank's death. Frank's death certificate lists his wife as Ella and the grave adjacent to his is for Irvin and Ella Buck. Irvin was her first husband who had died in 1918. Ella died August 16, 1946 and was buried with both her husbands.
Francis Wampler was a Socialist in politics and a strong believer in the "progressive" ideas of Eugene Debbs. Their party advocated for a pensioner's system to protect the elderly many years before the Social Security System became law. Frank ran for the US Senate on Indiana's Socialist ticket in 1920. As you might expect, he was trounced soundly. The electorate of the time was not in accord with "progressive" ideas. Undeterred, he ran for Indiana governor in 1924. Although he placed third, he again lost by a wide margin.
As he aged Frank's vision deteriorated badly. On a cold rainy day, he stepped out into the road directly into the path of an oncoming vehicle that he was not able to see. He died a short time later in the hospital, at age 84. He is buried at Brown (formerly Twin Creek Chapel) Cemetery as are his wife, Ella, two of his daughters, and one granddaughter.
© Tina M. Brown
No part of this biography may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from the author. My thanks to Kim Romine for part of the research for this memorial.
On October 31, 1880 Frank married first a preacher's daughter from a prominent, well-educated local family that included Union veterans of the Civil War. Martha A. Wadsworth was the mother of his five children. Sadly, both their sons, Edgar and Arthur, died in infancy. Martha and their boys are all buried in Raglesville/Mt. Joy Cemetery in Indiana surrounded by her kin. Their three daughters, Edna, Jessie and Vonda lived long, full lives.
After Martha died in 1902, Frank married second Emma May Ward on December 6, 1904 in Greene County. Our family long believed that Emma died in about 1929. You can imagine my surprise when I discovered that Emma lived until 1956. Who can know what destroys a marriage of almost 25 years, but Frank filed for divorce in October 1924, in Greene County, Indiana, a fact that would have been an excruciating embarrassment to a man of his temperament and background.
Frank married once more. The 1930 census shows Frank and his wife, Ella, living in Plano, Illinois southwest of Chicago. From there they moved to the environs of Dayton, Ohio. He and Ella were actually married on Sept. 1, 1931 in West Manchester, Preble, Ohio by a justice of the peace. They lived in West Alexandria (not the same place) until Frank's death. Frank's death certificate lists his wife as Ella and the grave adjacent to his is for Irvin and Ella Buck. Irvin was her first husband who had died in 1918. Ella died August 16, 1946 and was buried with both her husbands.
Francis Wampler was a Socialist in politics and a strong believer in the "progressive" ideas of Eugene Debbs. Their party advocated for a pensioner's system to protect the elderly many years before the Social Security System became law. Frank ran for the US Senate on Indiana's Socialist ticket in 1920. As you might expect, he was trounced soundly. The electorate of the time was not in accord with "progressive" ideas. Undeterred, he ran for Indiana governor in 1924. Although he placed third, he again lost by a wide margin.
As he aged Frank's vision deteriorated badly. On a cold rainy day, he stepped out into the road directly into the path of an oncoming vehicle that he was not able to see. He died a short time later in the hospital, at age 84. He is buried at Brown (formerly Twin Creek Chapel) Cemetery as are his wife, Ella, two of his daughters, and one granddaughter.
© Tina M. Brown
No part of this biography may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from the author. My thanks to Kim Romine for part of the research for this memorial.
Francis Marion Wampler was my grandmother's grandfather. He was a dignified, refined man with progressive and interesting opinions, and quixotic foibles. He was handsome, even into old age, and I suspect something of a ladies' man. His later wives were significantly younger than he and Frank became younger, too, on census and other records; a small vanity on his part.
On October 31, 1880 Frank married first a preacher's daughter from a prominent, well-educated local family that included Union veterans of the Civil War. Martha A. Wadsworth was the mother of his five children. Sadly, both their sons, Edgar and Arthur, died in infancy. Martha and their boys are all buried in Raglesville/Mt. Joy Cemetery in Indiana surrounded by her kin. Their three daughters, Edna, Jessie and Vonda lived long, full lives.
After Martha died in 1902, Frank married second Emma May Ward on December 6, 1904 in Greene County. Our family long believed that Emma died in about 1929. You can imagine my surprise when I discovered that Emma lived until 1956. Who can know what destroys a marriage of almost 25 years, but Frank filed for divorce in October 1924, in Greene County, Indiana, a fact that would have been an excruciating embarrassment to a man of his temperament and background.
Frank married once more. The 1930 census shows Frank and his wife, Ella, living in Plano, Illinois southwest of Chicago. From there they moved to the environs of Dayton, Ohio. He and Ella were actually married on Sept. 1, 1931 in West Manchester, Preble, Ohio by a justice of the peace. They lived in West Alexandria (not the same place) until Frank's death. Frank's death certificate lists his wife as Ella and the grave adjacent to his is for Irvin and Ella Buck. Irvin was her first husband who had died in 1918. Ella died August 16, 1946 and was buried with both her husbands.
Francis Wampler was a Socialist in politics and a strong believer in the "progressive" ideas of Eugene Debbs. Their party advocated for a pensioner's system to protect the elderly many years before the Social Security System became law. Frank ran for the US Senate on Indiana's Socialist ticket in 1920. As you might expect, he was trounced soundly. The electorate of the time was not in accord with "progressive" ideas. Undeterred, he ran for Indiana governor in 1924. Although he placed third, he again lost by a wide margin.
As he aged Frank's vision deteriorated badly. On a cold rainy day, he stepped out into the road directly into the path of an oncoming vehicle that he was not able to see. He died a short time later in the hospital, at age 84. He is buried at Brown (formerly Twin Creek Chapel) Cemetery as are his wife, Ella, two of his daughters, and one granddaughter.
© Tina M. Brown
No part of this biography may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from the author. My thanks to Kim Romine for part of the research for this memorial.
On October 31, 1880 Frank married first a preacher's daughter from a prominent, well-educated local family that included Union veterans of the Civil War. Martha A. Wadsworth was the mother of his five children. Sadly, both their sons, Edgar and Arthur, died in infancy. Martha and their boys are all buried in Raglesville/Mt. Joy Cemetery in Indiana surrounded by her kin. Their three daughters, Edna, Jessie and Vonda lived long, full lives.
After Martha died in 1902, Frank married second Emma May Ward on December 6, 1904 in Greene County. Our family long believed that Emma died in about 1929. You can imagine my surprise when I discovered that Emma lived until 1956. Who can know what destroys a marriage of almost 25 years, but Frank filed for divorce in October 1924, in Greene County, Indiana, a fact that would have been an excruciating embarrassment to a man of his temperament and background.
Frank married once more. The 1930 census shows Frank and his wife, Ella, living in Plano, Illinois southwest of Chicago. From there they moved to the environs of Dayton, Ohio. He and Ella were actually married on Sept. 1, 1931 in West Manchester, Preble, Ohio by a justice of the peace. They lived in West Alexandria (not the same place) until Frank's death. Frank's death certificate lists his wife as Ella and the grave adjacent to his is for Irvin and Ella Buck. Irvin was her first husband who had died in 1918. Ella died August 16, 1946 and was buried with both her husbands.
Francis Wampler was a Socialist in politics and a strong believer in the "progressive" ideas of Eugene Debbs. Their party advocated for a pensioner's system to protect the elderly many years before the Social Security System became law. Frank ran for the US Senate on Indiana's Socialist ticket in 1920. As you might expect, he was trounced soundly. The electorate of the time was not in accord with "progressive" ideas. Undeterred, he ran for Indiana governor in 1924. Although he placed third, he again lost by a wide margin.
As he aged Frank's vision deteriorated badly. On a cold rainy day, he stepped out into the road directly into the path of an oncoming vehicle that he was not able to see. He died a short time later in the hospital, at age 84. He is buried at Brown (formerly Twin Creek Chapel) Cemetery as are his wife, Ella, two of his daughters, and one granddaughter.
© Tina M. Brown
No part of this biography may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from the author. My thanks to Kim Romine for part of the research for this memorial.
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