| |
Calvin V. ATHA was born in the early months of 18601, probably in Monroe County, Virginia, to parents Lorenzo ATHA2 and Mary J. WISEMAN.3 By 1870, the Atha family had moved to the Clear Fork area of Raleigh County (now West Virginia).4 Here, as a young man, Calvin worked with his father on their family farm.5
Calvin married his first wife Elizabeth HIX 11 February 1881.6 Among their children were: John F., born February 1885; Lena B., born September 1887; and Thomas N., born 1893.7
His second marriage occurred on 9 April 1905 to Eliza Etta DANIEL.8 His family continued to reside in Raleigh County.9 With Etta, he had four more children: Martha Ann, born 29 July 190610; Calvin Edgar, born 4 September 190711; Wilmer, born 8 May 191112; and [female living].
By 1920, Calvin had changed occupations to become a coal miner.13 The last years of his life were spent in the household of his son John in Elkridge, Fayette County, West Virginia.14 Calvin died on 8 March 1931 from complications arising from a broken hip.15
My grandmother Martha Ann Atha told me her father Calvin's middle name was Vandevere. Raleigh County Marriages, Volume No. 4, 1902-1909 by Pauline Haga lists it as Vandevort. Other researchers have this middle name recorded as Van Jesrook. I have found no other public records to indicate which is correct.
END NOTES
1. Lorenzo Athy household, 1860 U.S. Census, population schedule, Virginia, Monroe Co., Peterstown District, page 34, line 26, dwelling 224, family 224, National Archives Microfilm Publication M653, roll 1363.
2. Ibid.
3. Death certificate of Calvin Atha, 8 March 1931, certificate 3238, Division of Vital Statistics, West Virginia State Department of Health, Charleston, WV. Certified copy in possession of writer.
4. Lorenzo Atha household, 1870 U.S. Census, population schedule, West Virginia, Raleigh Co., Clear Fork, page 14, line 26, dwelling 96, family 96, National Archives Microfilm Publication M593, roll 1698.
5. L.D. Atha household, 1880 U.S. Census, population schedule, West Virginia, Raleigh Co., Clear Fork, SD 2, ED 126, page 3, line 18, dwelling 23, family 26, National Archives Microfilm Publication T9, roll 1412.
6. Pauline Haga, Summers County West Virginia Marriages 1871 - 1883, selected records transcribed by Kimbery Torp hosted on the Internet at: http://members.aol.com/hickspage2/summersmarriages.html .
7. Calvin V. Athy household, 1900 U.S. Census, population schedule, West Virginia, Raleigh Co., Clear Fork district, SD 287, ED 115, sheet 12B, line 78, dwelling 171, family 172, National Archives Microfilm Publication T623, roll 1771.
8. Pauline Haga, Raleigh County Marriages, Volume No. 4, 1902-1909 p. 64, from Index prepared by Freddie Spradlin hosted on the Internet at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/wv/raleigh/marriages/ral02-09.txt .
9. Calvin V. Atha household, 1910 U.S. Census, population schedule, West Virginia, Raleigh Co., Clear Fork district, SD 5, ED 170, sheet 9A, line 29, dwelling 172, family 178, National Archives Microfilm Publication T624, roll 1695.
10. Record of Martha A. Pietkoski, Social Security Death Index, Master File, Social Security Administration, Orem, UT: Ancestry, Inc., 2000..
11. SS5 application of Calvin Edgar Atha, 3 December 1936, Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service, microform copy in possession of writer.
12. SS5 application of Willmer Atha, 3 December 1936, Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service, microform copy in possession of writer..
13. The census enumerator mangled Calvin Atha's name. His family is recorded as the Colburn Asa household, 1920 U.S. Census, population schedule, West Virginia, Raleigh Co., Sand Lick precinct, SD 6, ED 151, sheet 11B, line 95, dwelling 139, family 141, National Archives Microfilm Publication T625, roll 1970.
14. John Atha household, 1930 U.S. Census, population schedule, West Virginia, Fayette Co., Kanawha, Elkridge, ED 24, SD 6, sheet 6A, house number 30, dwelling 93, family 97, National Archives Microfilm Publication T626, roll 2531.
15. Death certificate of Calvin Atha. Ibid. |