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EDWARD L "Eddie" WINGROVE 

Adopted son of Otis P Wingrove 

So how did this little boy born in England get all the way from London to a little farming community in the middle of Kansas?   And why would this older couple, Otis & Mary Wingrove, with grown children, adopt him?  That still remains a mystery.  When I posed this question to both the librarian at Heritage Library located in the Hemet library and to the volunteer at the Mormon Library in Hemet, they both told me about orphan trains that carried children whose parents had died or who couldn't afford to keep them, and brought them to farming areas in Missouri and Kansas where people would take them to work on their farms.  Both ladies said this could be a good possibility.

                        

                         Otis P Wingrove & 2nd wife Mary Fletcher Ryan
                         Possibly Edward L Wingrove, adopted son 
                         (Clay Center Kansas)

           Edward Lewis Wingrove 
            b. 10 May 1887, London England
         d. 29 Sep 1963, California 
            buried San Jacinto Cemetery, San Jacinto/Hemet CA 
            View Headstone 
            Read Obituary 
       mar 1. Winifred 'Winnie' Gertrude Hawley 
                 02 November 1910, Los Angeles CA  
                 Read Marriage Announcement
                 Winifred b. 1888 
                            d. 05 March 1914
                                Read Winifred's Obituary     
                                bur. Hemet CA
                                      View Headstone 
                                      San Jacinto Valley Cemetery District, San Jacinto-Hemet Cemetery

         Child of Edward & Winnie Wingrove:
               Claude Hawley Wingrove 
                  b. 20 September 1911  Hemet CA
                  d. 16 September 2003 NB
                  Read Claude Wingrove Obituary 
                  mar 1 Arlene 
                          Children:
                                      Claude H Wingrove Jr
                                      Darold Wingrove
                                      George Wingrove
                                      Edward Wingrove
                  mar 2 Jody

         Ed was left with this little baby of 2 1/2 years after Winifred's death.  
         He took Baby Claude back to Clay Center KS, to be raised by Magnus Hawley and his wife, 
         the grandparents. 
         Ed returned to Hemet.  He married Elizabeth Smith in 1918
     
     mar 2  Elizabeth Smith
               1918
              b. 24 Aug 1893
              d. 27 Dec 1978  California 
                  buried  San Jacinto Cemetery, San Jacinto/Hemet CA 
                  View Headstone 

A Visit 2004

John, the caretaker of San Jacinto Cemetery, said Elizabeth Wingrove would come down to the cemetery every Christmas and give a $20 bill to each of the cemetery workers.  She had a millinery shop in Hemet CA.   
Larry Harvey, the retired superintendent met me at the flag pole there at the cemetery. He knew Eddie Wingrove when he was an older man and he, Larry, was a young man. Then he pointed northward of where we were standing and told me that Ed Wingrove had owned the property adjoining the cemetery, and when the cemetery district needed to expand, they bought 5 acres from Ed Wingrove.  I asked if, in his estimation, Ed Wingrove had money or was well off, since he had owned so much land, and he and his wife had this second home in La Jolla (another Spanish word pronounced La Hoy-ya) north of San Diego.  It is quite a ritzy area, and always has been. His answer was, yes, you probably wouldn't say he was rich, but he had plenty of money.  That is amazing to me since I know my grandparents (Otis) didn't have much money at all, and raised chickens and had fruit trees in the Hemet area.  But Eddie must have invested in real estate and did okay for himself.

Census Returns lists that Edward L Wingrove was born in England
as were his parents

     EDWARD L Wingrove
     1910 CA RIVERSIDE HEMET TWP

     Hemet City
     Edward L Wingrove [22] b. ENG Father b. Eng Mother b. Eng
     Citizenship 1890 
     He came to the USA at an age of about three 

     The year of adoption is not clear, but Eddie is with the Wingrove family by
     1892 and living in Clay Centre Kansas

From a letter written by Ida Mae Wingrove to her brother Lilburn S. Wingrove dated "Clay Centre
Kans" December 1st 1892. Lilburn lived in Lindsay (Tulare County) California at this time.

Quote:

Eddie was very much pleased with his Handkerchief. He said to tell you thank you for it.
Eddie said to tell you that he is learning to read and to tell you to send him a slate and new
pencils. I told him (your) Brother Lilburn would think he was a regular little beggar.
(End of quote)

Eddie was born in 1887. He would have been 5 years old at this writing in 1892. 

* * * * * * *

From a letter written by Mary Ryan Wingrove, widow of Otis P. Wingrove, to her step-son,
Lilburn. Dated Hemet, Calif. Feb 25,1908 (Lilburn lived in California Hot Springs, Tulare County, at this writing. Otis had died December 1907).

Quote:

Dear Son, 
 (She tells about how she is feeling, etc. then this next part comes a couple of paragraphs down)

Eddie has got the trees all trimmed very nice and has sowed bluegrass in the yard, has plowed the olives and the truck (?) patch and has sowed that little patch of alfalfa down next to Mr. Newton's. Has ordered a lot more trees to fill vacancies and is doing well.
(She goes on to tell about bills that need to be paid to undertakers, Dr., etc., then goes on to say:)
I owe Edd quite a lot. (then goes on about the cow and chickens, her health and being nervous) Edd is cutting up the wood he got out of the orchard trimmings. 
Love from Momsie, Mary Wingrove

End quote.

Eddie would have been 21 at this writing and the location Hemet CA. 

* * * * * * * * * * 

It is unknown when Otis and Mary and Eddie Wingrove moved from Clay Center to Hemet, California or why. The 1900 Census records show Lilburn and Ida Wingrove in California as early as the 1900 returns. Lilburn lived was quite a distance away, like over 200 miles or more, so it wouldn't have been to live closer to him. 
Otis and Mary visited California Hot Springs because there are pictures. Eddie was not in the pictures.
By looking at the age Meredith might have been (son of Lilburn) and at Otis, I would say that was in 1906 or 1907. Otis died in December of 1907. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

1920 California Mission Indian Reservation HEMET CITY
Edward Wingrove 31 b. ENG Father ENG Mother ENG Delivery Man Retail Grocer
                                  Citizenship 1890 1893
Elizabeth              25 b. ENG Father ENG Mother ENG
                                  Citizenship 1913 1918

1930 Riverside Co, Hemet Twp CA 
Edward L Wingrove 
Age: 40 
Birthplace: England Roll: T626_183 Race: White Page: 14A 
State: California ED: 13 County: Riverside Township: Hemet 
Relationship: Head 
---- 
   Elizabeth Wingrove, 
   Age: 35 
   Birthplace: Roll: T626_183 Race: Page: 14A 
   State: California ED: 13 County: Riverside Township: Hemet 
   Relationship: Wife 

. . . . . . . . . . 

San Jacinto Valley Cemetery District, San Jacinto-Hemet Cemetery

WINGROVE PLOT

Winifred Wingrove

Otis Wingrove is buried in the next plot.  It seems very strange to me that there is not a stone marking his grave.  Mary, his wife, purchased the 4 plots.  She moved back to Clay Center, Kansas after the death of Otis, and is buried there.

The large stone on the right is Winifred Wingrove, 1st wife of Edward Wingrove.
To the right of Winifred's tombstone is buried a little 4 day old boy named Clifton Cavanah. 
   Who was he?  
      Larry Harvey, the former grounds superintendent who knew Ed Wingrove, suggested that the Cavanah's might have been friends of Edward.  They might have been in the Masonic Lodge together. The former superintendent said it could have been that since there was an unused plot and this little baby needed to be buried, that Edward offered it to the Cavanah family.

Otis Patrick Wingrove's daughter Ida May Wingrove Welsh is also buried in this area.

The graves of Edward and Elizabeth Wingrove are located a couple of rows down from the above Wingrove 4 plots.

. . . . . . . 

Hawley Wingrove taken from 'The Times' 10 November 1910 page 1 The marriage of Miss Winnie Gertrude Hawley of this city, to Edward L Wingrove of Hemet CA, took place last Wednesday evening, 2 November 1910, in Los Angeles, at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Herman Kadow, 151 West 51st Street, former residents of Clay County KS. Promptly at 8 o'clock the bridal couple took their places, in the parlor beneath an arch of smilax and ferns, to the strains of a wedding march played by Mrs. Anna Bell. Rev. C H Lawrence of the South Main Methodist Episcopal Church officiated at the ceremony. Immediately following the service a bountiful supper was served by Mrs. Kadow, in the dinning room, which was beautifully decorated with red and white roses and ferns. During the evening, Mrs. John Buckles of Downey CA, favored the quests with a number of vocal solos, accompanied by Mrs. Bell at the piano. The bride, who is one of Clay Center's nicest girls, was gowned in a beautiful white dress with orange blossoms in her hair. The groom wore the conventional black. Mr. and Mrs. Wingrove will make their home in Hemet California, where the groom has a position as U S Mail carrier. They have many friends in Clay Centre and are well and favorably known here and their host of friends extend their congratulations. Miss Pearl Hawley of this city was present at the wedding, having accompanied her sister there a few weeks ago. Mr. and Mrs. Kadow where the wedding occurred formerly lived at Vining; Mrs. Ann Bell, who presided at the piano. at Clifton, and Mrs. John Buckles who sang at Vining

(San Jacinto Register Mar. 5, 1914 ) Mrs. Edward L. Wingrove died at her home in Hemet at seven o'clock last Wednesday evening.  It was announced that acute kidney trouble was the cause of her death.  She had been ill only a few days, and until Wednesday morning her condition was not considered serious.  The funeral services were held from the Wingrove home at two o'clock Thursday afternoon.  She was 24 years old. (Times Kansas March 5, 1914) Wingrove: - Mrs. Ed Wingrove daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Hawley, of this city, passed away very suddenly last Wednesday afternoon at 6 o'clock at her home at Hemet, California, news of the death reaching the Clay Center parents late Wednesday night Mrs. Wingrove was formerly Miss Winnie Hawley of this place and has many friends in this community, who sorrow at the news of her death.  She went to California about three years ago and shortly after going to Los Angeles was married to Ed Wingrove, who was also a Clay county resident before going to the west to live. Arrangements had been made to ship the body to Clay Center for burial but later developments made it necessary to make the burial at Hemet. The girl's bible class of the first M. E. Church of this city met to express sorrow at the death of Mrs. Winnie Hawley Wingrove and the following resolutions were adopted: Whereas, God in His infinite mercy has removed from earthly toil to eternal rest Winnie Hawley ex president, and former member of the Girls' bible class. Whereas, in view of the loss sustain by those who were nearest and dearest to her, therefore be it resolved that we sincerely condole with her friends, on the dispensation with which it has pleased Divine Providence to afflict them, and commend them for consolation to Him who orders all things for the best. Resolved.  That a copy of these resolutions be sent to her parents and sister, Iva, to her husband, Mr. Ed Wingrove, and to her sister, Mrs. Peary Canabaugh, and a copy spread upon the minutes of this class, and copies sent to our city papers. - Irene Rea, Ethel Attwood, Florence Funnell, Committee.       * Eddie : Edward L. Wingrove           adopted son of Otis and Mary Wingrove.           Eddie was born in 1887.

Hemet News October 1963 Edward L. Wingrove, Valley Pioneer, is Victim of Drowning: Former Valley resident and a pioneer in this area, Edward Lewis Wingrove, 76, drowned Sunday morning while swimming at Pacific Beach, near La Jolla. Mr. Wingrove, who was born May 10, 1887, in London England, arrived in this area in 1907 from Clay Center, Kansas.  During the early years he ran the mail stage between Hemet and the areas of Anza, Cahuilla and Aguanga.  Besides mail, he delivered supplies to both settlers and Indians as well as providing transportation between the communities. He owned considerable acreage in the Valley consisting of peach orchards and business property. During World War I he served in the army with the 91st Division. Although Mr. Wingrove moved from the Valley about eight years ago to La Jolla, he still regarded Hemet as home and would often return to visit with his many friends in this area. According to his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Wingrove, her husband had gone to Pacific Beach to visit friends and before returning to their La Jolla home had decided to take a quick swim.  Lifeguards and the Pacific Beach coroner's office report that he apparently either suffered a cramp or was caught in the rip tide. Funeral services have been scheduled at 10 a.m. tomorrow in the Harford Funeral Home in Hemet, with the Rev. Fr. Donald Ledsum of the Episcopal church of Beaumont, officiating.  Interment will be in San Jacinto Valley Cemetery.  Other survivors include his son; Claude H. Wingrove of Lincoln, Nebraska, and four grandsons.

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