Olive eloped to Cumberland, Maryland and married Calvin Alexander Klingensmith on November 1, 1916. It seems significant that this was less than two months after her father died on September 6th. One can only guess to what extent her emotional distress and the family's financial hardship weighed on her decision to marry after just two years of high school.
The marriage record indicated several errors: Jennie Oliver Elgin, age 16 (she was 15) wed Calvin Alexander Klingersmith, age 21 (he was 17). While the marriage most likely could have been annulled or declared illegal it is unclear that there was anyone with the resources or interest to contest the out-of-state marriage. However, it is the type of reckless behavior you might expect from impetuous teenagers. According to her daughter Elizabeth, Olive never told her children that she had eloped.
For a period of time the Olive Klingensmith family resided in a house that was several miles outside of town as you head north out of Kittanning past the courthouse along Clearfield Pike. The children would walk 2-3 miles into Kittanning to attend school but frequently got rides from people who knew them. When living out of town, they did keep a certain number of farm animals to raise and used for food.
It's been said that very early in their married life, they, or at least Olive, owned and operated a small neighborhood grocery store. After the rough years of the Depression and WWII, things were better. Cal had a successful auto dealership but developed a "wandering eye." This became evident to Olive and her children about 1937.
Calvin initiated divorce proceedings and Olive resisted and consented only after it was evident the marriage could not be saved. However, divorce papers show that Olive was sued by Cal for divorce and found to be the guilty party; as in July 1945, she was found to have "rendered his condition intolerable and his life burdensome." My guess is that she moved out then in heartbreak and disgust (she applied for a social security number in 1943, apparently to permit her to secure employment). The divorce was finalized in 1951.
In 1956 on her application for a life insurance policy (purchased from from her son-in-law John Doumont) Olive indicated she was 5' 3", weighed 135 pounds and was employed as a typist and filing clerk at the Armstrong County courthouse making $200 a month (this was 2/3 the median income of men at this time but twice the median income for women, so in context, pretty good - but then again, given that she was single in an era when most were married, perhaps not). She remained employed there until she died, just a few months before her planned retirement.
Olive was remembered as being "a remarkable and admirable woman with a good outlook on life, no matter what the adversities were."
Olive died suddenly of a stroke on May 1964 and is buried in Harkleroad cemetery next to her mother Jennie and sister Margaret Dowling.
Olive and her family moved frequently. In 1910 she resided with her parents in Ford City. By 1919 she was married and resided at 1121 Wilson Avenue (living with mother), Kittanning. In years that followed:
1920 - 220 Chestnut Street, Kittanning
1930 - 133 Queen Street, Kittanning
1936 - RFD #2, Kittanning
1940 - Orchard Street, Ford City
1943 - 1223 Fifth Street, Ford City
Sometime after her separation she moved back to Kittanning and lived in the house owned by her mother Jennie Elgin on 504 Highland Avenue before finally purchasing her home in West Kittanning at 230 Harrison Street.
-----------
Page 23 of Kittanning Simpson Leader Times , May 7, 1964:
Mrs. Olive Elgin Klingensmith of 230 Harrison St., West Kittanning died unexpectedly at 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, 1964, in Armstrong County Memorial Hospital as a result of a heart attack. She was aged 63 years having been born Nov 24, 1900 in Valley Township, the daughter of Edward A. and Jennie Harkleroad Elgin. Mrs. Klingensmith spent her entire life in this community and was a member of the First Baptist Church, Kittanning and the Eastern Star. She was employed at the Armstrong County courthouse for ten years. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Blair (Elizabeth) Harmon of Malvern, and Mrs. John (Margaret) Doumont of Butler, and four grandchildren. Friends of Olive Elgin Klingensmith will be received at Bauer Funeral Home, Kittanning after 7 p.m. Thursday. Family visitation hours are 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. The service will be held at ? p.m. Saturday at the funeral home with her pastor, Rev. Laurence T. Beers officiating. Interment will be made in Harkleroad Cemetery. Arrangements by Bauer.
The marriage record indicated several errors: Jennie Oliver Elgin, age 16 (she was 15) wed Calvin Alexander Klingersmith, age 21 (he was 17). While the marriage most likely could have been annulled or declared illegal it is unclear that there was anyone with the resources or interest to contest the out-of-state marriage. However, it is the type of reckless behavior you might expect from impetuous teenagers. According to her daughter Elizabeth, Olive never told her children that she had eloped.
For a period of time the Olive Klingensmith family resided in a house that was several miles outside of town as you head north out of Kittanning past the courthouse along Clearfield Pike. The children would walk 2-3 miles into Kittanning to attend school but frequently got rides from people who knew them. When living out of town, they did keep a certain number of farm animals to raise and used for food.
It's been said that very early in their married life, they, or at least Olive, owned and operated a small neighborhood grocery store. After the rough years of the Depression and WWII, things were better. Cal had a successful auto dealership but developed a "wandering eye." This became evident to Olive and her children about 1937.
Calvin initiated divorce proceedings and Olive resisted and consented only after it was evident the marriage could not be saved. However, divorce papers show that Olive was sued by Cal for divorce and found to be the guilty party; as in July 1945, she was found to have "rendered his condition intolerable and his life burdensome." My guess is that she moved out then in heartbreak and disgust (she applied for a social security number in 1943, apparently to permit her to secure employment). The divorce was finalized in 1951.
In 1956 on her application for a life insurance policy (purchased from from her son-in-law John Doumont) Olive indicated she was 5' 3", weighed 135 pounds and was employed as a typist and filing clerk at the Armstrong County courthouse making $200 a month (this was 2/3 the median income of men at this time but twice the median income for women, so in context, pretty good - but then again, given that she was single in an era when most were married, perhaps not). She remained employed there until she died, just a few months before her planned retirement.
Olive was remembered as being "a remarkable and admirable woman with a good outlook on life, no matter what the adversities were."
Olive died suddenly of a stroke on May 1964 and is buried in Harkleroad cemetery next to her mother Jennie and sister Margaret Dowling.
Olive and her family moved frequently. In 1910 she resided with her parents in Ford City. By 1919 she was married and resided at 1121 Wilson Avenue (living with mother), Kittanning. In years that followed:
1920 - 220 Chestnut Street, Kittanning
1930 - 133 Queen Street, Kittanning
1936 - RFD #2, Kittanning
1940 - Orchard Street, Ford City
1943 - 1223 Fifth Street, Ford City
Sometime after her separation she moved back to Kittanning and lived in the house owned by her mother Jennie Elgin on 504 Highland Avenue before finally purchasing her home in West Kittanning at 230 Harrison Street.
-----------
Page 23 of Kittanning Simpson Leader Times , May 7, 1964:
Mrs. Olive Elgin Klingensmith of 230 Harrison St., West Kittanning died unexpectedly at 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, 1964, in Armstrong County Memorial Hospital as a result of a heart attack. She was aged 63 years having been born Nov 24, 1900 in Valley Township, the daughter of Edward A. and Jennie Harkleroad Elgin. Mrs. Klingensmith spent her entire life in this community and was a member of the First Baptist Church, Kittanning and the Eastern Star. She was employed at the Armstrong County courthouse for ten years. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Blair (Elizabeth) Harmon of Malvern, and Mrs. John (Margaret) Doumont of Butler, and four grandchildren. Friends of Olive Elgin Klingensmith will be received at Bauer Funeral Home, Kittanning after 7 p.m. Thursday. Family visitation hours are 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. The service will be held at ? p.m. Saturday at the funeral home with her pastor, Rev. Laurence T. Beers officiating. Interment will be made in Harkleroad Cemetery. Arrangements by Bauer.
Olive eloped to Cumberland, Maryland and married Calvin Alexander Klingensmith on November 1, 1916. It seems significant that this was less than two months after her father died on September 6th. One can only guess to what extent her emotional distress and the family's financial hardship weighed on her decision to marry after just two years of high school.
The marriage record indicated several errors: Jennie Oliver Elgin, age 16 (she was 15) wed Calvin Alexander Klingersmith, age 21 (he was 17). While the marriage most likely could have been annulled or declared illegal it is unclear that there was anyone with the resources or interest to contest the out-of-state marriage. However, it is the type of reckless behavior you might expect from impetuous teenagers. According to her daughter Elizabeth, Olive never told her children that she had eloped.
For a period of time the Olive Klingensmith family resided in a house that was several miles outside of town as you head north out of Kittanning past the courthouse along Clearfield Pike. The children would walk 2-3 miles into Kittanning to attend school but frequently got rides from people who knew them. When living out of town, they did keep a certain number of farm animals to raise and used for food.
It's been said that very early in their married life, they, or at least Olive, owned and operated a small neighborhood grocery store. After the rough years of the Depression and WWII, things were better. Cal had a successful auto dealership but developed a "wandering eye." This became evident to Olive and her children about 1937.
Calvin initiated divorce proceedings and Olive resisted and consented only after it was evident the marriage could not be saved. However, divorce papers show that Olive was sued by Cal for divorce and found to be the guilty party; as in July 1945, she was found to have "rendered his condition intolerable and his life burdensome." My guess is that she moved out then in heartbreak and disgust (she applied for a social security number in 1943, apparently to permit her to secure employment). The divorce was finalized in 1951.
In 1956 on her application for a life insurance policy (purchased from from her son-in-law John Doumont) Olive indicated she was 5' 3", weighed 135 pounds and was employed as a typist and filing clerk at the Armstrong County courthouse making $200 a month (this was 2/3 the median income of men at this time but twice the median income for women, so in context, pretty good - but then again, given that she was single in an era when most were married, perhaps not). She remained employed there until she died, just a few months before her planned retirement.
Olive was remembered as being "a remarkable and admirable woman with a good outlook on life, no matter what the adversities were."
Olive died suddenly of a stroke on May 1964 and is buried in Harkleroad cemetery next to her mother Jennie and sister Margaret Dowling.
Olive and her family moved frequently. In 1910 she resided with her parents in Ford City. By 1919 she was married and resided at 1121 Wilson Avenue (living with mother), Kittanning. In years that followed:
1920 - 220 Chestnut Street, Kittanning
1930 - 133 Queen Street, Kittanning
1936 - RFD #2, Kittanning
1940 - Orchard Street, Ford City
1943 - 1223 Fifth Street, Ford City
Sometime after her separation she moved back to Kittanning and lived in the house owned by her mother Jennie Elgin on 504 Highland Avenue before finally purchasing her home in West Kittanning at 230 Harrison Street.
-----------
Page 23 of Kittanning Simpson Leader Times , May 7, 1964:
Mrs. Olive Elgin Klingensmith of 230 Harrison St., West Kittanning died unexpectedly at 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, 1964, in Armstrong County Memorial Hospital as a result of a heart attack. She was aged 63 years having been born Nov 24, 1900 in Valley Township, the daughter of Edward A. and Jennie Harkleroad Elgin. Mrs. Klingensmith spent her entire life in this community and was a member of the First Baptist Church, Kittanning and the Eastern Star. She was employed at the Armstrong County courthouse for ten years. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Blair (Elizabeth) Harmon of Malvern, and Mrs. John (Margaret) Doumont of Butler, and four grandchildren. Friends of Olive Elgin Klingensmith will be received at Bauer Funeral Home, Kittanning after 7 p.m. Thursday. Family visitation hours are 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. The service will be held at ? p.m. Saturday at the funeral home with her pastor, Rev. Laurence T. Beers officiating. Interment will be made in Harkleroad Cemetery. Arrangements by Bauer.
The marriage record indicated several errors: Jennie Oliver Elgin, age 16 (she was 15) wed Calvin Alexander Klingersmith, age 21 (he was 17). While the marriage most likely could have been annulled or declared illegal it is unclear that there was anyone with the resources or interest to contest the out-of-state marriage. However, it is the type of reckless behavior you might expect from impetuous teenagers. According to her daughter Elizabeth, Olive never told her children that she had eloped.
For a period of time the Olive Klingensmith family resided in a house that was several miles outside of town as you head north out of Kittanning past the courthouse along Clearfield Pike. The children would walk 2-3 miles into Kittanning to attend school but frequently got rides from people who knew them. When living out of town, they did keep a certain number of farm animals to raise and used for food.
It's been said that very early in their married life, they, or at least Olive, owned and operated a small neighborhood grocery store. After the rough years of the Depression and WWII, things were better. Cal had a successful auto dealership but developed a "wandering eye." This became evident to Olive and her children about 1937.
Calvin initiated divorce proceedings and Olive resisted and consented only after it was evident the marriage could not be saved. However, divorce papers show that Olive was sued by Cal for divorce and found to be the guilty party; as in July 1945, she was found to have "rendered his condition intolerable and his life burdensome." My guess is that she moved out then in heartbreak and disgust (she applied for a social security number in 1943, apparently to permit her to secure employment). The divorce was finalized in 1951.
In 1956 on her application for a life insurance policy (purchased from from her son-in-law John Doumont) Olive indicated she was 5' 3", weighed 135 pounds and was employed as a typist and filing clerk at the Armstrong County courthouse making $200 a month (this was 2/3 the median income of men at this time but twice the median income for women, so in context, pretty good - but then again, given that she was single in an era when most were married, perhaps not). She remained employed there until she died, just a few months before her planned retirement.
Olive was remembered as being "a remarkable and admirable woman with a good outlook on life, no matter what the adversities were."
Olive died suddenly of a stroke on May 1964 and is buried in Harkleroad cemetery next to her mother Jennie and sister Margaret Dowling.
Olive and her family moved frequently. In 1910 she resided with her parents in Ford City. By 1919 she was married and resided at 1121 Wilson Avenue (living with mother), Kittanning. In years that followed:
1920 - 220 Chestnut Street, Kittanning
1930 - 133 Queen Street, Kittanning
1936 - RFD #2, Kittanning
1940 - Orchard Street, Ford City
1943 - 1223 Fifth Street, Ford City
Sometime after her separation she moved back to Kittanning and lived in the house owned by her mother Jennie Elgin on 504 Highland Avenue before finally purchasing her home in West Kittanning at 230 Harrison Street.
-----------
Page 23 of Kittanning Simpson Leader Times , May 7, 1964:
Mrs. Olive Elgin Klingensmith of 230 Harrison St., West Kittanning died unexpectedly at 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, 1964, in Armstrong County Memorial Hospital as a result of a heart attack. She was aged 63 years having been born Nov 24, 1900 in Valley Township, the daughter of Edward A. and Jennie Harkleroad Elgin. Mrs. Klingensmith spent her entire life in this community and was a member of the First Baptist Church, Kittanning and the Eastern Star. She was employed at the Armstrong County courthouse for ten years. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Blair (Elizabeth) Harmon of Malvern, and Mrs. John (Margaret) Doumont of Butler, and four grandchildren. Friends of Olive Elgin Klingensmith will be received at Bauer Funeral Home, Kittanning after 7 p.m. Thursday. Family visitation hours are 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. The service will be held at ? p.m. Saturday at the funeral home with her pastor, Rev. Laurence T. Beers officiating. Interment will be made in Harkleroad Cemetery. Arrangements by Bauer.
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