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Thelma is the daughter of Lloyd Feather Bliss and his wife Cecile Gay Upham, of Geyer Road, N.- N.E. of Buchanan, Berrien County Michigan. She was the eldest of seven children (six girls and one boy).
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Note: "The Farm Journal Illustrated Rural Directory of Berrien County [MI] for 1917", shows that Thelma's parents were living on Portage Street in Buchanan, Michigan.
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Thelma's birth certificate states that she was born in Buchanan, Berrien County Michigan, on Aug. 13, 1918.
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The 1920 census shows Thelma and her family living on a farm on Geyer Road, N.-N.E....
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Thelma is the daughter of Lloyd Feather Bliss and his wife Cecile Gay Upham, of Geyer Road, N.- N.E. of Buchanan, Berrien County Michigan. She was the eldest of seven children (six girls and one boy).
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Note: "The Farm Journal Illustrated Rural Directory of Berrien County [MI] for 1917", shows that Thelma's parents were living on Portage Street in Buchanan, Michigan.
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Thelma's birth certificate states that she was born in Buchanan, Berrien County Michigan, on Aug. 13, 1918.
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The 1920 census shows Thelma and her family living on a farm on Geyer Road, N.-N.E. of Buchanan, Berrien County Michigan, next to her father's parents.
This farm on Geyer Road had been in Niles township, until about the late 1890's, when it was then transferred to Buchanan township (possibly because Niles township did not want to help pay for the Buchanan bridge). This land transfer gave Buchanan township it's current square shape - six miles by six miles.
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A newspaper article printed in a special Chamber of Commerce "Booster Edition" of the "Berrien County Record" newspaper in Buchanan, Michigan in 1925 (possibly written at an earlier date for a student essay), states that Thelma attended the Mead (one room) School, located on the South-East corner of Range Line and Geyer Roads (just down the road from their farm), in the N. W. corner of Section 19. The Mead school was located on the township line, between Niles township and Buchanan township. There were 19 pupils in the school. Miss Lillie Schaub was the teacher. Thelma was the only one in the second grade. It also states that her father "Mr. [Lloyd] Bliss", owned 180 acres; 39 fruit trees, apple and pear; and 3 Jersey cows.
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Note: Thelma's father Lloyd F. Bliss, and her Grandfather Milton J. Bliss (along with Milton's sister Anna), also had attended the Mead School. Thelma's grandfather Milton J. Bliss became the Director of the Mead School in 1906. The records of the Mead School show that Thelma's Great-Grandfather DeBert Bliss had ordered some school books from a book publishing company in 1880. (Could DeBert Bliss possibly have been the Director of the school at that time?)
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In the 1920 census, Thelma was living with her parents (on Geyer Road), in Berrien County Michigan.
In the 1930 census, Thelma was living in Edwardsburg, Cass County Michigan, with her parents, and her sisters, Mary L., Marguerite G., and Barbara C. Bliss.
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On Dec. 7, 1925 her parents purchased a home (now known as) 26575 East Main Street, in Edwardsburg, Cass County, MI. It was near the center of town. Thelma could remember roller skating up and down the streets of Edwardsburg with the roller skates that clamped on to your shoes, and fashened with a key.
About 5 and 1/2 years later, they sold this home on July 20, 1931 and moved back to the farm on Geyer Road, N.-N.E. of Buchanan, Michigan that her father was born and raised on (after Lloyd's mother had left him most of this farm in her will).
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Thelma "possibly" had attended
elementary school in Edwardsburg,
Michigan, for the 3rd thru 7th grades.
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An article in "The News-Palladium" newspaper, in Benton Harbor, MI on Mon. June 13, 1932, tells of Thelma Bliss and 45 other "rural" students (surrounding Buchanan, MI), receiving their 8th grade diplomas.
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In the Buchanan District Library's
"Local History Room", is a 3-ring binder
notebook containing information
on the one room schools near Buchanan.
It contains a group picture of all of
the students who attended the Mead School
in 1935 (the year Thelma was married).
Thelma's sisters Marguerite and
Barbara Bliss are in the photo.
Their teacher was Alma Tinkum.
The Mead School was located on the
North-East corner of Range Line and
Geyer Roads, in Section 19, North of
Buchanan, Michigan.
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Thelma then attended the Buchanan High School, in Buchanan, Michigan. Thelma can be seen in the class pictures in the 1933, 1934, and 1935 Buchanan High School yearbooks.
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Thelma was married on Aug. 14, 1935 to Paul Anthony Letcher (the son of Alois Letcher and his wife Alice Ketchum), in South Bend, St. Joseph County Indiana, by Joseph P. Miller, Justice of the Peace. They were "attended" by Paul's cousin Evelyn Doty (daughter of Stella), and her future husband Frank Trapp.
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The seven children of Paul Anthony Letcher and his wife Thelma Celestia Bliss are:
(six girls and one boy)
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1. Mary Pauline Letcher. Born in the home of her Grandparents, at 3575 West Bertrand Road, in Bertrand Township, Berrien County Michigan. m. Jack Evan Toney, the son of Evan Scott Toney and his wife Gladys Irene Momony (who are buried in the Union Cemetery in Berrien Co. MI). Jack and Mary had one daughter. Jack and Mary were later divorced. Mary then took back her maiden name. Mary died on Aug. 20, 2009, (North of) Three Rivers, Michigan. Mary is buried in the Oak Ridge Cemetery, near her parents.
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2. Joanne Thelma Letcher. Joanne was the Valedictorian of the Cassopolis High School graduating class of 1956.
(Article in "The Cassopolis Vigilant" newspaper on May 31, 1956, page four). m. # 1. Oct. 12, 1956, in the "Penn Friends Church", in Penn, Cass County Michigan, to Clayton Carlton Dorman (nicknamed "Cart" Dorman), the son of Clayton W. Dorman and his wife Lyllas Sharp. Cart and Joanne had two sons and one daughter. Cart Dorman was born Oct. 9, 1930, and died on Dec. 10, 1989. m. # 2. Richard Eugene Easton.
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3. Kenneth ("Ken" & "Kenny") Eugene Letcher. m. # 1. Sarah Ann Lace, the daughter of Charles Damon Lace and his wife Henrietta Mae Pohlman. Ken and Sarah had two daughters and one son. They later divorced. One of their daughters, Sarah Jean Letcher, born July 24, 1964, and died May 29, 1987 in a auto accident in Wayne Township, Cass County Michigan. m. # 2. Karen Jane ("Sue") Brugh (nicknamed "Sue"). Ken and Sue had one son, and two daughters.
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4. Nancy Ellen Letcher. Nancy has her "War Ration Books" which were issued to her during World War II, which rationed items as: sugar, butter, cooking oil, canned goods, gasoline, shoes, and more. Book No. 1, age 2 months old, 24 inches tall, blue eyes, black hair, address R.R. # 4, Niles, MI. Book No. 2. Book No. 3, 6 months old, address, R.R. # 4, Niles, MI. Nancy graduated from the (one-room) White Temple Grade School (K-8), and the Cassopolis High School (9-12). m. Hermann Heib on Feb. 23, 1963, in the Nineth Street Methodist Church in Three Rivers, St. Joseph County Michigan. He is the son of Josef Heib and his wife Eugenie Woruda of Kalamazoo, MI, and later, of Saline, Michigan. Hermann and Nancy are the parents of three daughters. All three daughters attended the Woodland Elementary School, Portage West Middle School, and Portage Central High School, in Portage, Michigan (on the South side of Kalamazoo, MI). Hermann and Nancy lived at 5299 Whippoorwill Drive, in Portage, Kalamazoo County Michigan (on the South side of Kalamazoo, MI), for 31 years (1969-2000). After retirement, they moved to 4439 Annelo Drive, in Greenwood, Johnson County Indiana. They also own a condominium home, overlooking the golf course, South of Lakeland, Polk County Florida, where they spend the winter months.
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5. Lois Elaine Letcher. b. Jan 27, 1946. d. June 11, 2014, near Sturgis, MI. m. # 1. Frank Griems Jr. (known as "Junior"), the son of Frank A. Griems Sr. and his wife Lena M. Pausel. Lois and Junior had two daughters. Lois and Junior later divorced.
m. # 2. William Charles ("Bill") Fink Jr., the son of William Fink Sr. and his wife Ann Radtke. Bill owned and operated Rivers Services and Appliance Repair, near Three Rivers, MI. Bill was born Feb. 3, 1923, and he died on June 29, 1988. m. # 3. James Michael ("Jim") Caba, the son of John Caba and his wife Sarah. Lois and Jim operated the Sweet Lake Mobile Home Park and Campground, near Sturgis, MI. Jim was born Dec. 1, 1929, and died on Jan. 29, 2005.
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6. Patricia ("Patti") Louise Letcher. m. # 1. William Lee Sherry. (He went by "Lee" Sherry). He was the son of William Dell Sherry and his wife Leatrice Miller. Patti and Lee had one daughter. They later divorced. m. # 2. Clarence James Hunsberger (nicknamed "Dutch"), the son of Willis J. Hunsberger and his wife Mildred M. Whitmyer. Patti and Dutch had one son.
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7. Victoria ("Vicki") Lynn Letcher. m. Joseph ("Joe") Allen Hackenberg, the son of Walter Allen Hackenberg and his wife Gertrude Agnes Detwiler. Joe and Vicki had two daughters, and an infant stillborn son named Andrew Allen Hackenberg, born in 1977.
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When Paul and Thelma were first married they lived with Paul's parents at 3575 West Bertrand Road, South of Buchanan, Berrien County Michigan. (Their eldest child was born in an upstairs bedroom there). They then lived near the train depot in Niles, MI (E. of Buchanan), and in Bertrand, MI (S.-E. of Buchanan).
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The obituary for Thelma's father Lloyd F. Bliss, published in March of 1938, states that Thelma and Paul were living in South Bend, Indiana. (This was the mailing address for Paul's parents, who actually lived South of Buchanan, Michigan (not in South Bend), near the Michigan-Indiana state line).
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The 1940 census, shows Paul and Thelma living with their first two children, in Howard township (on the East side of Niles), Cass County Michigan.
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Note: In the obituary for Thelma's sister Mary Louise Bliss in June of 1941, Thelma and Paul are listed as living in Bertrand, Berrien County Michigan.
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On March 21, 1945 Paul and Thelma purchased a 100 acre farm (now known as 17747 Shattuck Road), North of Vandalia, Cass County Michigan, in Sections 22 and 23 of Penn Township. They owned this farm for 17 years, one month, and fourteen days. They later sold this farm on May 4, 1962.
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Their children attended the White Temple (one-room) Grade School, on the S.-W. corner of White Temple Road and Quaker Street. This school was in Section 14 of Penn township, Cass County Michigan, District # 3. (It was later closed about 1959). Some of the teachers during the 1950's were Miss Betty Tamlyn, Mrs. Wanda Lewis, and Mrs. Norma Westphal. The school is now used as a private residence, and the address is now listed as 58578 White Temple Road. There appears to have been an addition added on both the front and back of the building. Note: When this school was closed, Thelma was the secretary of the P.T.A. (Parent-Teachers Association), and she ended up with the secretary's journal, containing the minutes of "all" of the annual meetings and end-of-year school picnics, including the names of all those who were present each year.
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The 4 eldest children, attended the Cassopolis High School. The younger ones later attended the Three Rivers High School. Their children were also members of the White Temple 4-H Club.
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After the first four children were grown, they sold the farm North of Vandalia, and moved to a two-story home on North Main Street, in Jones, Michigan (on Driskel Lake), where the three youngest attended the Three Rivers High School.
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After they sold this home, Paul built a ranch-style home right next door to the two-story.
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After all the children were grown, Paul and Thelma moved to 58546 Ash Road, in Three Rivers, Michigan.
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While living on their farm North of Vandalia, Michigan, Thelma worked as a telephone switchboard operator in Cassopolis, Michigan, and when that office closed, she worked at the telephone office in Dowagic, Michigan (back when you told the operator the number you wanted, and she "personally" connected you on a "party line").
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Note: Three of Thelma's sisters were also telephone operators (but worked in Niles, Michigan). Thelma later worked as a baker at the Cassopolis [MI] Bakery, and then she worked at the Continental Can Company in Three Rivers, MI (this particular factory made paper cups). She later worked as a cook and kitchen manager for the "Commission on Ageing" Meal Department for St. Joseph County, in Three Rivers, Michigan.
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Thelma died at her home at 58546 Ash Road,
in Three Rivers, Michigan, sometime during
the night or early morning hours.
She was pronounced dead in the emergency
room of the Three Rivers Hospital,
in Three rivers, Michigan, early
Wednesday morning, July 26, 1978.
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Thelma died of heart disease, at the age of 59 years, 11 months and 13 days.
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Thelma's obituary was published in the Three Rivers, MI newspaper. It reads as follows:
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Mrs. Paul (Thelma Celestia) Letcher, 59, died early Wednesday morning at the Three Rivers Hospital. She made her home at R.R. 4 Ash Road, Three Rivers [MI]. Mrs. Letcher was born in Buchanan, Michigan on August 13, 1918, the daughter of Lloyd and Cecil [Cecile] (Upham) Bliss. She attended Buchanan High School. On August 14, 1935 she was married to Paul A. Letcher in South Bend, Indiana. Following their marriage they made their home in Buchanan, North of Vandalia, and Jones, [MI], moving to Three Rivers [MI] one year ago. Mrs. Letcher was employed for the past four years by the Commission on Aging Meal Dept. for the County of St. Joseph [MI], before that she had employment with the Buchanan High School [?], and Continental Can Company. Mrs. Letcher was a member of the A.A.R.P. of St. Joseph County. Surviving are her husband Paul A. Letcher: one son, Kenneth E. Letcher of R.R. 2, Three Rivers [MI]: six daughters, Mrs. Mary Toney, R.R. 4, Cassopolis, MI: Mrs. Clayton (Joanne) Dorman, R.R. 2, Three Rivers, [MI]: Mrs. Hermann (Nancy) Heib of Kalamazoo, MI: Mrs. Lois Griems of Three Rivers [MI]: Mrs. Lee (Patricia) Sherry of R.R. 1, Jones, MI: and Mrs. Joseph (Victoria) Hackenberg of R.R. 2, Three Rivers [MI]: sixteen grand-children, four sisters, Mrs. Rayford (Marguerite) Crocker of Niles, MI: Mrs. Thomas (Barbara) Huff of Michigan City, Indiana: Mrs. [Jack] (Kathryn) Clemens of Buchanan, MI, and Mrs. William (Frances) Batchelor of Florida: several nieces and nephews. Religious services for Mrs. Letcher will be held from the Halverson Chapel Saturday at 2 p.m. with the Rev. John Benham of the Jones Methodist church officiating. The family will be at the funeral home to receive friends from 6-9 p.m. Thursday and Friday evenings. Memorials may be left at the funeral home for the Michigan Heart Fund.
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Paul and Thelma's headstone is located
in Section B, Lot 88. It reads:
LETCHER
PAUL A.
1911-1987
THELMA C.
1918-1978
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The headstone for their eldest child
Mary Pauline Letcher, is located nearby.
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Note: Both Paul's parents (Alois and Alice Letcher), and Thelma's parents (Lloyd and Cecile Bliss), are buried in this cemetery, as well as Thelma's paternal grandparents (Milton and Julia Bliss), and her maternal grandparents (Clarence and Cleta "Cleo" Upham), and her maternal Great grandparents (Liberty and Celestia Dragoo), and her maternal Great, Great, grandparents (Francis "Frank" Hunniker Sr. and his wife Julia Ann Hunniker). See the memorials for "all" of these ancestors (who all have lived in Buchanan, Michigan), on this "find-a-grave" web site.
Five consecutive generations of Thelma's family are buried in this cemetery!! [Six generations counting Paul and Thelma's daughter Mary Pauline Letcher].
(Also, many siblings and children of these ancestors). At last count, we have found over 76 of Paul and Thelma's relatives, who are buried in this Oak Ridge cemetery.
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An excellent source of information on
the history of Buchanan through the
years, are the newsletters, published
by "Friends of Oak Ridge Cemetery",
written by Robert D. Brown, President,
and newsletter editor.
(Located in the "Local History Room"
of the Buchanan District Library).
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Also, see articles published in the
"Berrien County Record" newspaper,
in Buchanan, Michigan, on
July 27, 1933.
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Note: Thelma's Great, Great, Great, Grandparents, Jacob and Isabella Dragoo came from Monongalia County Virginia, to McCoy's Creek (now known as Buchanan, Berrien County Michigan) in 1834.
Their son Ewell and his wife Jane Dragoo (Thelma's Great, Great, Grandparents), came a year later, in 1835. They are all buried in the Dragoo family pioneer cemetery in Buchanan, Michigan, origionally located on a farm. This farm property was later annexed to the town of Buchanan, MI and divided into "city" lots. This cemetery is "now" located in the backyard of a PRIVATE residence, at 936 Chippewa Street, in Buchanan, Michigan. Thelma's four "direct" ancestors are buried there, along with many of their descendants, in a Dragoo "family" cemetery named the "Virginian's Burying Ground".
Note: See the memorial for Jacob Dragoo,
of Berrien County Michigan, on this web site.
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Note: See the memorials for Thelma's ancestors: Jacob Dragoo, Ewell Dragoo, and Liberty Dragoo (who served in the Civil War), and their wives (all of Buchanan, Michigan), on this "find-a-grave" web site.
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Note: For the history of the Cemetery and the Dragoo family, see:
"The Virginian's Burying Ground, Buchanan, Berrien County Michigan and The Family of Jacob and Isabella Dragoo", compiled by Nancy (Letcher) Heib, located in the "Local History Room" of the Buchanan District Library, Buchanan, Michigan, and in the Library of Michigan, Lansing, Mchhigan. (www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan).
Also located in the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana (www.acpl.lib.in.us)
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Note: Some local people also refer to the cemetery on Chippewa Street, as the "Dragoo Cemetery".
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Note: For the history of the Bliss family, see:
"Genealogy Of The Bliss Family in America" [a three volume set], compiled and published by Aaron Tyler Bliss, Midland, Michigan in 1982. Volumes I and II, pages 244,494-497, 827-828, 1151-1152, and 1458. Located in the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana (www.acpl.lib.in.us), and in the
Library of Michigan, Lansing, Michigan (www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan).
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Note: Part of the information on Lloyd Feather Bliss in this genealogy is incorrect (page 1458). The compiler of this genealogy has this Lloyd Feather Bliss (page 1458), mixed up with another Lloyd Sidney Bliss (page 1222), who lived in Lapeer, Michigan.
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Note: Thelma's Great, Great, Grandfather
Joshua Feather Sr. and his wife
Mary Ann (Smith) Feather, came from
Pennsylvania to Berrien Springs, Berrien
County Michigan with 3 children, in a
one-horse wagon in 1836. They then settled
on the West side of Hinchman, MI in 1837,
where Joshua Feather Sr. founded the
"Feather Settlement", on the West
side of Hinchman, in Oronoko Township
(North of Buchanan), Berrien County MI.
According to a County history book,
Joshua Feather Sr. became one of the
wealthest farmers in Berrien County MI.
Joshua Feather Sr. gave each of his
children AND each of his grandchildren,
either land to start a farm (usually 80
acres), or money to buy a farm.
Joshua Feather Sr. and his wife Mary,
and four of their five children, are
buried in the Feather "family" cemetery,
on the West side of Hinchman, Michigan, on
land that had belonged to Joshua Feather Sr.
See the memorials for Joshua Feather Sr.
and his wife Mary, of Berrien County
Michigan, on this web site.
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Note: For additional information on this
Feather family, see the book titled:
"The Feather Family, of Oronoko Township,
Berrien County Michigan"
compiled by Nancy (Letcher) Heib,
located in the
Allen County Public Library,
Fort Wayne, Indiana.
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Note: See the memorials for Thelma's
family on this web site:
Paternal grandfather, Milton James Bliss.
Paternal grandmother, Julia M. (Feather) Bliss.
Maternal grandfather, Clarence Upham.
Maternal grandmother,
Cleta "Cleo" (Dragoo) Upham.
Father: Lloyd Feather Bliss.
Mother, Cecile Gay (Upham) Bliss.
Husband, Paul Anthony Letcher.
Eldest child, Mary Pauline Letcher.
(ALL buried in this Oak Ridge Cemetery,
in Buchanan, Berrien County Michigan). |
