grandmother of original creator of her memorial, Carolyn Whitaker (civilwarbuff). Bio shown below is also by Mrs. Whitaker.
Married 1st Ellsworth Monroe "Elzie" Dickey Jackson Co Missouri at age 16 - lied about age on marriage cert - 16 Aug 1913 - Divorced - No issue See his memorial for divorce
Married 2nd Herbert Floyd Marple Garnett, Anderson Co Kansas 26 Apri1 1915 - Divorced - 1 son stillborn
Married 3rd Joseph Eugene Whitaker, Ft Smith, Sebastian Co. Arkansas 8 Jan 1917 - ended by grandpa's death - 2 sons
Married 4th Frank Parks, Jackson Co Missouri 3 March 1920 ended by his death - no issue
To my great surprise I received grandma's marriage record from Anderson Co Kansas to discover that she had a previous marriage to Elzie Dickey I knew nothing about. I then discovered she had ran off and married Elzie to Kansas City, Mo when she was 16 years old and lied on her marriage certificate.
To my grandmother, whom I never knew. She had 4 grandchildren she never laid eyes on and never had the joy of loving. She ended up with no other grandchildren, probably a punishment for what she had done is my guess. Through all the secrecy in everyone that was involved in my dad's adoption or knew about it, prevented us from being re-united before grandma's death. Everybody knew but my Dad, including his adoptive siblings, who refused to tell us the truth. I feel so cheated not to have had the opportunity to spend time with our real family before their deaths because everybody knew what was best for my dad. She also had 7 great grandchildren at the time of her death. This story just about broke mine and my Dad's hearts when the real truth emerged. I'll always remember the day I visited her grave and stood and cried. I know her pain was great for what she had done with many regrets. I still love her with all my heart and know she had a difficult decision to make due to her circumstances at the time, but I still think it's the meanest thing a man could do to a woman to ask her to give up a tiny baby for adoption out of his selfishness.
I know our family never forgot about Daddy as I found a letter in his adoption file dated 1923 from Kansas City, which was written by great grandma, Luella Powell Gardner, inquiring if they could see Daddy, but the agency declined and sent them a photograph which was still in the file.
When we re-united with cousins still alive in Iola, Kansas in 1992 we heard all kinds of stories and they told us of their knowledge of what happened. We were received with open arms and joy. When we met Aunt Vada Bell Parks, uncle Don's wife, she just cried because Daddy and Uncle Don looked like twins. She graciously provided all the photos I have on both sides of my grandparents. She also told of the pain Uncle Don experienced wanting to know where his brother was at because he always wanted siblings, but didn't have the first clue where to look. Unfortunately Uncle Don died 6 weeks before I found our family, which was a huge blow. In spite of the denial of our adoptive family I vowed I'd find the truth. It took me a number of years, but piece by piece I made it. It finally took me writing to the Iola newspaper requesting assistance in locating our family. The woman who helped us knew someone who knew our cousin, Betty Gardner Leslie and called her. I'll never forget the first phone call we had, we both cried like babies. We got to meet her at our reunion in 1992 and what a joy she was to be around. It was like we had never been gone.
I know grandma made her choice based on her own childhood of an alcoholic rambling father and watched the struggles her own mother went through raising her and her siblings alone and knew first hand what a struggle she faced.
Married 2nd Herbert Floyd Marple 26 April 1915 Garnett, Anderson Co. Kansas, ended in divorce
DIVORCE ACTION #11054 DISTRICT COURT, IOLA, ALLEN COUNTY, KANSAS
H. FLOYD MARPLE, A MINOR BY WILLARD MARPLE, HIS FATHER AND NEXTFRIEND -- ATTORNEY R. H. BENNETT
VS.
FLOSSIE MARPLE -ATTORNEY F. J. OYLER DIVORCE GRANTED IN FAVOR OF PLAINTIFF 20 DEC 1916
(Note: I think one of the most bizarre things I found when we discovered my Dad's adoption was that the Gardner family attorney was F. J. Oyler and my dad was adopted by the family of Charles Samuel Oyler and Ruby Coltharp, who were living in Washington Co. Oklahoma at the time they got my dad. I've never been able to make a connection of these two Oyler families)
17 Oct 1916 Petition filed. Deposit for Costs $5.00. Precipe filed Summons issued to sheriff of Allen Co. Kan. Returned day Oct 27, 1916, Answer day Nov 16, 1916
Excerpt from petition: "in Oct 1915, while plaintiff was working at the U. S. Smelters he was injured and unable to work for two or three months and thereafter was without steady employment till about April 1916. Abt the later part of May 1916 the defendant moved to her mother's & plaintiff soon found that she was being frequently found in the company of a certain other man and in this way first was able to determine her real purpose in leaving him. ---- he tried to persuade her to return and live with him and she refused to do so. Plaintiff finds that the attention of the other man to her are regular and frequent and from the time she left plaintiff she has not seemed to hesitate to be seen in public places with him very frequently. That one child was born to them but same died in infancy."
21 Oct Affidavit filed by Flossie Marple
excerpt from affidavit: "Affiant admits that she has been in the company of a young man friend of hers, but that she has not kept company with him as alleged in plaintiff's petition, but have only been together occasionaly simply as old acquaintances and friends..
Affiant alleges the fact to be that the plaintiff is more guilty in this regard than she is, for that he has been out with other women upon different occasions, and has been keeping company with other girls, the name of which she will furnish if the court requires; but she would rather not make their names of record in this court or in any way disgrace them unless it becomes necessary to prove the allegations of this affidavit." Mrs. Flossie Marple (signature)
3 Nov Affidavit filed
20 Dec Stipulation filed Recorded Journal V, Page 390
Divorce Proctor's Report filed
27 Dec Receipt filed
27 Dec Decree filed: Divorce granted Dec 20, 1916 in favor of H. Floyd Marple
excerpt from decree of divorce: "that the defendant is guilty of gross neglect of duty toward the plaintiff and has violated her marital agreement with him. It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed that the plaintiff be and he is hereby granted absolute divorce from the defendant because of the fault of the defendant, this divorce, however, not to become absolute and operative until six months from this date, to wit: December 20, 1916"
under Kansas law Flossie was not able to marry for 6 months so she and grandpa went to Ft. Smith, Arkansas to marry. When I first discovered they had married there I wondered why until I found the divorce. No one except her parents and siblings knew of this marriage. Her son Donald was totally unaware and never did know. She threatened everyone within an inch of their life not to divulge her past. Many stories have been told to me about grandma Flossie and what a wild child she was and how haughty she became after she married Frank Parks. I wonder if she knew she was pregnant with son Donald and had to get married in a hurry.
MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE, 8 Jan 1917, Ft. Smith, Sebastian Co. Arkansas Flossie Marple to Eugene Whitaker
Married 3rd Joseph Eugene Whitaker 8 Jan 1917 Ft Smith, Sebastian Co. Arkansas, ended in his death
11 September 1919 Birth of 2nd son, Clarence Ugene Whitaker
1 DEC 1919 Relinquishment Form to Kansas Children's Home Society of 2nd son, Clarence Ugene Whitaker by mother, Mrs. Flossie Whitaker
1920 Washington Co Oklahoma Jefferson twp, 2 Feb 1920, sheet 3b, household 59
Charles S. Oyler 38 Mo father England mo Ill farming
Ruby E 30 Ks father Indiana mother MO
Emma B dtr Ok
Eugene adopted son 3 mos unk US parents unk US
1920 Allen Co. Kansas, Iola city, ed 9, img 34, pg 109b & 110a, household 461, 621 North Oak
Loyd Gardner 19 Ks father Illinois machinist cement plant
Ella mother 52 Mo parents Mo
Chester C brother 24 Ks father Illinois
Flossie Whitaker 23 Ks father Illinois widow
Donald B. Whitaker 2 yrs 3 mos Ks father Texas nephew
the only one working in the household was Loyd
Married 4th Frank Law Parks 3 Mar 1920 Kansas City, Jackson Co. Missouri - no children
1925 Kansas Census Wyandotte Co Ks 254
Frank L Parks 27 Ks truck driver Larson Who Gro
Flossie wife 28
Bruce son 7
Ella Gardner mother in law 56 MO
1930 Kansas City, Wyandotte, KS 943 Lafayette household 330
Frank L Parks 33 Ks parents Ks truck driver oil refinery
Flossie B 33 KS fa ILL mo MO
Donald B son 12 Ks
1940 Kansas City, Wyandotte, Kansas, 2910 Parkwood Bend, April 6-8
Frank Parks 43 Ks oil salesman private business owns property value $4200
Flossie 43 Ks lived same place in April 1, 1935
Donald Bruce 22 son Ks office clerk cleaning company
BETTY GARDNER LESLIE, 1992 on visit to Iola, Kansas - Told me the following:
MR. PARKS HAD ASK TO MARRY HER WITH THE STIPULATION SHE HAD TO FORFEIT ONE OF HER CHILDREN BECAUSE HE DIDN'T FEEL HE COULD SUPPORT ALL OF THEM. SHE AND FRANK LIVED IN IOLA FOR A TIME AFTER THEIR MARRIAGE AS THEY HAD RENTED A HOUSE FROM HER FATHER LLOYD GARDNER (Flossie's brother) AND THEY HAD LEFT A UTILITY BILL UNPAID WHEN THEY VACATED THE PREMISES AND WENT TO KANSAS CITY TO LIVE.
Mrs. Flossie B. Parks, 79, formerly of 1408 N. 38th, died Saturday at a nursing home in Overland Park.
Mrs. Parks was born in Iola, Kansas and was a resident here 54 years. She was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal church, the Ladies Auxiliary Post 83, and the Ladies Auxiliary 8 and 40 of Voiture 762.
Mrs. Parks is survived by a son, Donald B. Parks, Camdenton, Mo. And a brother, William L. Gardner, Iola, Kan.
Services are pending at Gibson-Butler Funeral Home.
MRS. FLOSSIE B. PARKS
Services for Mrs. Flossie B. Parks, 79, formerly of Kansas City, Kansas, will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Gibson-Butler Funeral Home.
Burial will be in the National Cemetery, Ft. Leavenworth. Friends may call after 4 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Mrs. Parks died Saturday at a nursing home in Kansas City, Mo.
DEATH CERTIFICATE NO. 9199 (Stamped) 28 Oct 1976 Kansas State Department of Health, Division of Vital Statistics (copy in my possession)
Deceased: FLOSSIE B. PARKS female Date of Death: Oct 9, 1976 white Age: 79 Date of Birth 1/7/1897 County of Death: Johnson City: Overland Park Hospital or other institution: Royal Hills Nursing Cntr State of Birth: Kansas widowed
SOCIAL SECURITY #514-30-6875 Residence: 1408 N. 38th, Kansas City, Wyandotte Co. Kansas
Father: Chas. Gardner Mother: Luella Powell
Informant: Donald B. Parks, Rt B, Box 8FB, Camdenton, MO 65020
Cause of Death: Artenoscleratic cardiovascular disease Physician Certification: I attended the deceased from 2/75 to 10/9/76. Last saw her alive on 10/8/76 9 A.M.
S. G. Seibel, M.D. (signature) 10/13/76
Burial: Ft. Leavenworth Natl Cem, Ft. Lv., KS 10/13/76 Funeral Home: Gibson & Son, Jos A. butler & Son 19th & Minnesota, KC Ks 66102
Read more of the story on son Donald's memorial where he gave a sermon at his church about my dad's adoption and grandma Flossie.
Married 1st Ellsworth Monroe "Elzie" Dickey Jackson Co Missouri at age 16 - lied about age on marriage cert - 16 Aug 1913 - Divorced - No issue See his memorial for divorce
Married 2nd Herbert Floyd Marple Garnett, Anderson Co Kansas 26 Apri1 1915 - Divorced - 1 son stillborn
Married 3rd Joseph Eugene Whitaker, Ft Smith, Sebastian Co. Arkansas 8 Jan 1917 - ended by grandpa's death - 2 sons
Married 4th Frank Parks, Jackson Co Missouri 3 March 1920 ended by his death - no issue
To my great surprise I received grandma's marriage record from Anderson Co Kansas to discover that she had a previous marriage to Elzie Dickey I knew nothing about. I then discovered she had ran off and married Elzie to Kansas City, Mo when she was 16 years old and lied on her marriage certificate.
To my grandmother, whom I never knew. She had 4 grandchildren she never laid eyes on and never had the joy of loving. She ended up with no other grandchildren, probably a punishment for what she had done is my guess. Through all the secrecy in everyone that was involved in my dad's adoption or knew about it, prevented us from being re-united before grandma's death. Everybody knew but my Dad, including his adoptive siblings, who refused to tell us the truth. I feel so cheated not to have had the opportunity to spend time with our real family before their deaths because everybody knew what was best for my dad. She also had 7 great grandchildren at the time of her death. This story just about broke mine and my Dad's hearts when the real truth emerged. I'll always remember the day I visited her grave and stood and cried. I know her pain was great for what she had done with many regrets. I still love her with all my heart and know she had a difficult decision to make due to her circumstances at the time, but I still think it's the meanest thing a man could do to a woman to ask her to give up a tiny baby for adoption out of his selfishness.
I know our family never forgot about Daddy as I found a letter in his adoption file dated 1923 from Kansas City, which was written by great grandma, Luella Powell Gardner, inquiring if they could see Daddy, but the agency declined and sent them a photograph which was still in the file.
When we re-united with cousins still alive in Iola, Kansas in 1992 we heard all kinds of stories and they told us of their knowledge of what happened. We were received with open arms and joy. When we met Aunt Vada Bell Parks, uncle Don's wife, she just cried because Daddy and Uncle Don looked like twins. She graciously provided all the photos I have on both sides of my grandparents. She also told of the pain Uncle Don experienced wanting to know where his brother was at because he always wanted siblings, but didn't have the first clue where to look. Unfortunately Uncle Don died 6 weeks before I found our family, which was a huge blow. In spite of the denial of our adoptive family I vowed I'd find the truth. It took me a number of years, but piece by piece I made it. It finally took me writing to the Iola newspaper requesting assistance in locating our family. The woman who helped us knew someone who knew our cousin, Betty Gardner Leslie and called her. I'll never forget the first phone call we had, we both cried like babies. We got to meet her at our reunion in 1992 and what a joy she was to be around. It was like we had never been gone.
I know grandma made her choice based on her own childhood of an alcoholic rambling father and watched the struggles her own mother went through raising her and her siblings alone and knew first hand what a struggle she faced.
Married 2nd Herbert Floyd Marple 26 April 1915 Garnett, Anderson Co. Kansas, ended in divorce
DIVORCE ACTION #11054 DISTRICT COURT, IOLA, ALLEN COUNTY, KANSAS
H. FLOYD MARPLE, A MINOR BY WILLARD MARPLE, HIS FATHER AND NEXTFRIEND -- ATTORNEY R. H. BENNETT
VS.
FLOSSIE MARPLE -ATTORNEY F. J. OYLER DIVORCE GRANTED IN FAVOR OF PLAINTIFF 20 DEC 1916
(Note: I think one of the most bizarre things I found when we discovered my Dad's adoption was that the Gardner family attorney was F. J. Oyler and my dad was adopted by the family of Charles Samuel Oyler and Ruby Coltharp, who were living in Washington Co. Oklahoma at the time they got my dad. I've never been able to make a connection of these two Oyler families)
17 Oct 1916 Petition filed. Deposit for Costs $5.00. Precipe filed Summons issued to sheriff of Allen Co. Kan. Returned day Oct 27, 1916, Answer day Nov 16, 1916
Excerpt from petition: "in Oct 1915, while plaintiff was working at the U. S. Smelters he was injured and unable to work for two or three months and thereafter was without steady employment till about April 1916. Abt the later part of May 1916 the defendant moved to her mother's & plaintiff soon found that she was being frequently found in the company of a certain other man and in this way first was able to determine her real purpose in leaving him. ---- he tried to persuade her to return and live with him and she refused to do so. Plaintiff finds that the attention of the other man to her are regular and frequent and from the time she left plaintiff she has not seemed to hesitate to be seen in public places with him very frequently. That one child was born to them but same died in infancy."
21 Oct Affidavit filed by Flossie Marple
excerpt from affidavit: "Affiant admits that she has been in the company of a young man friend of hers, but that she has not kept company with him as alleged in plaintiff's petition, but have only been together occasionaly simply as old acquaintances and friends..
Affiant alleges the fact to be that the plaintiff is more guilty in this regard than she is, for that he has been out with other women upon different occasions, and has been keeping company with other girls, the name of which she will furnish if the court requires; but she would rather not make their names of record in this court or in any way disgrace them unless it becomes necessary to prove the allegations of this affidavit." Mrs. Flossie Marple (signature)
3 Nov Affidavit filed
20 Dec Stipulation filed Recorded Journal V, Page 390
Divorce Proctor's Report filed
27 Dec Receipt filed
27 Dec Decree filed: Divorce granted Dec 20, 1916 in favor of H. Floyd Marple
excerpt from decree of divorce: "that the defendant is guilty of gross neglect of duty toward the plaintiff and has violated her marital agreement with him. It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed that the plaintiff be and he is hereby granted absolute divorce from the defendant because of the fault of the defendant, this divorce, however, not to become absolute and operative until six months from this date, to wit: December 20, 1916"
under Kansas law Flossie was not able to marry for 6 months so she and grandpa went to Ft. Smith, Arkansas to marry. When I first discovered they had married there I wondered why until I found the divorce. No one except her parents and siblings knew of this marriage. Her son Donald was totally unaware and never did know. She threatened everyone within an inch of their life not to divulge her past. Many stories have been told to me about grandma Flossie and what a wild child she was and how haughty she became after she married Frank Parks. I wonder if she knew she was pregnant with son Donald and had to get married in a hurry.
MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE, 8 Jan 1917, Ft. Smith, Sebastian Co. Arkansas Flossie Marple to Eugene Whitaker
Married 3rd Joseph Eugene Whitaker 8 Jan 1917 Ft Smith, Sebastian Co. Arkansas, ended in his death
11 September 1919 Birth of 2nd son, Clarence Ugene Whitaker
1 DEC 1919 Relinquishment Form to Kansas Children's Home Society of 2nd son, Clarence Ugene Whitaker by mother, Mrs. Flossie Whitaker
1920 Washington Co Oklahoma Jefferson twp, 2 Feb 1920, sheet 3b, household 59
Charles S. Oyler 38 Mo father England mo Ill farming
Ruby E 30 Ks father Indiana mother MO
Emma B dtr Ok
Eugene adopted son 3 mos unk US parents unk US
1920 Allen Co. Kansas, Iola city, ed 9, img 34, pg 109b & 110a, household 461, 621 North Oak
Loyd Gardner 19 Ks father Illinois machinist cement plant
Ella mother 52 Mo parents Mo
Chester C brother 24 Ks father Illinois
Flossie Whitaker 23 Ks father Illinois widow
Donald B. Whitaker 2 yrs 3 mos Ks father Texas nephew
the only one working in the household was Loyd
Married 4th Frank Law Parks 3 Mar 1920 Kansas City, Jackson Co. Missouri - no children
1925 Kansas Census Wyandotte Co Ks 254
Frank L Parks 27 Ks truck driver Larson Who Gro
Flossie wife 28
Bruce son 7
Ella Gardner mother in law 56 MO
1930 Kansas City, Wyandotte, KS 943 Lafayette household 330
Frank L Parks 33 Ks parents Ks truck driver oil refinery
Flossie B 33 KS fa ILL mo MO
Donald B son 12 Ks
1940 Kansas City, Wyandotte, Kansas, 2910 Parkwood Bend, April 6-8
Frank Parks 43 Ks oil salesman private business owns property value $4200
Flossie 43 Ks lived same place in April 1, 1935
Donald Bruce 22 son Ks office clerk cleaning company
BETTY GARDNER LESLIE, 1992 on visit to Iola, Kansas - Told me the following:
MR. PARKS HAD ASK TO MARRY HER WITH THE STIPULATION SHE HAD TO FORFEIT ONE OF HER CHILDREN BECAUSE HE DIDN'T FEEL HE COULD SUPPORT ALL OF THEM. SHE AND FRANK LIVED IN IOLA FOR A TIME AFTER THEIR MARRIAGE AS THEY HAD RENTED A HOUSE FROM HER FATHER LLOYD GARDNER (Flossie's brother) AND THEY HAD LEFT A UTILITY BILL UNPAID WHEN THEY VACATED THE PREMISES AND WENT TO KANSAS CITY TO LIVE.
Mrs. Flossie B. Parks, 79, formerly of 1408 N. 38th, died Saturday at a nursing home in Overland Park.
Mrs. Parks was born in Iola, Kansas and was a resident here 54 years. She was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal church, the Ladies Auxiliary Post 83, and the Ladies Auxiliary 8 and 40 of Voiture 762.
Mrs. Parks is survived by a son, Donald B. Parks, Camdenton, Mo. And a brother, William L. Gardner, Iola, Kan.
Services are pending at Gibson-Butler Funeral Home.
MRS. FLOSSIE B. PARKS
Services for Mrs. Flossie B. Parks, 79, formerly of Kansas City, Kansas, will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Gibson-Butler Funeral Home.
Burial will be in the National Cemetery, Ft. Leavenworth. Friends may call after 4 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Mrs. Parks died Saturday at a nursing home in Kansas City, Mo.
DEATH CERTIFICATE NO. 9199 (Stamped) 28 Oct 1976 Kansas State Department of Health, Division of Vital Statistics (copy in my possession)
Deceased: FLOSSIE B. PARKS female Date of Death: Oct 9, 1976 white Age: 79 Date of Birth 1/7/1897 County of Death: Johnson City: Overland Park Hospital or other institution: Royal Hills Nursing Cntr State of Birth: Kansas widowed
SOCIAL SECURITY #514-30-6875 Residence: 1408 N. 38th, Kansas City, Wyandotte Co. Kansas
Father: Chas. Gardner Mother: Luella Powell
Informant: Donald B. Parks, Rt B, Box 8FB, Camdenton, MO 65020
Cause of Death: Artenoscleratic cardiovascular disease Physician Certification: I attended the deceased from 2/75 to 10/9/76. Last saw her alive on 10/8/76 9 A.M.
S. G. Seibel, M.D. (signature) 10/13/76
Burial: Ft. Leavenworth Natl Cem, Ft. Lv., KS 10/13/76 Funeral Home: Gibson & Son, Jos A. butler & Son 19th & Minnesota, KC Ks 66102
Read more of the story on son Donald's memorial where he gave a sermon at his church about my dad's adoption and grandma Flossie.
grandmother of original creator of her memorial, Carolyn Whitaker (civilwarbuff). Bio shown below is also by Mrs. Whitaker.
Married 1st Ellsworth Monroe "Elzie" Dickey Jackson Co Missouri at age 16 - lied about age on marriage cert - 16 Aug 1913 - Divorced - No issue See his memorial for divorce
Married 2nd Herbert Floyd Marple Garnett, Anderson Co Kansas 26 Apri1 1915 - Divorced - 1 son stillborn
Married 3rd Joseph Eugene Whitaker, Ft Smith, Sebastian Co. Arkansas 8 Jan 1917 - ended by grandpa's death - 2 sons
Married 4th Frank Parks, Jackson Co Missouri 3 March 1920 ended by his death - no issue
To my great surprise I received grandma's marriage record from Anderson Co Kansas to discover that she had a previous marriage to Elzie Dickey I knew nothing about. I then discovered she had ran off and married Elzie to Kansas City, Mo when she was 16 years old and lied on her marriage certificate.
To my grandmother, whom I never knew. She had 4 grandchildren she never laid eyes on and never had the joy of loving. She ended up with no other grandchildren, probably a punishment for what she had done is my guess. Through all the secrecy in everyone that was involved in my dad's adoption or knew about it, prevented us from being re-united before grandma's death. Everybody knew but my Dad, including his adoptive siblings, who refused to tell us the truth. I feel so cheated not to have had the opportunity to spend time with our real family before their deaths because everybody knew what was best for my dad. She also had 7 great grandchildren at the time of her death. This story just about broke mine and my Dad's hearts when the real truth emerged. I'll always remember the day I visited her grave and stood and cried. I know her pain was great for what she had done with many regrets. I still love her with all my heart and know she had a difficult decision to make due to her circumstances at the time, but I still think it's the meanest thing a man could do to a woman to ask her to give up a tiny baby for adoption out of his selfishness.
I know our family never forgot about Daddy as I found a letter in his adoption file dated 1923 from Kansas City, which was written by great grandma, Luella Powell Gardner, inquiring if they could see Daddy, but the agency declined and sent them a photograph which was still in the file.
When we re-united with cousins still alive in Iola, Kansas in 1992 we heard all kinds of stories and they told us of their knowledge of what happened. We were received with open arms and joy. When we met Aunt Vada Bell Parks, uncle Don's wife, she just cried because Daddy and Uncle Don looked like twins. She graciously provided all the photos I have on both sides of my grandparents. She also told of the pain Uncle Don experienced wanting to know where his brother was at because he always wanted siblings, but didn't have the first clue where to look. Unfortunately Uncle Don died 6 weeks before I found our family, which was a huge blow. In spite of the denial of our adoptive family I vowed I'd find the truth. It took me a number of years, but piece by piece I made it. It finally took me writing to the Iola newspaper requesting assistance in locating our family. The woman who helped us knew someone who knew our cousin, Betty Gardner Leslie and called her. I'll never forget the first phone call we had, we both cried like babies. We got to meet her at our reunion in 1992 and what a joy she was to be around. It was like we had never been gone.
I know grandma made her choice based on her own childhood of an alcoholic rambling father and watched the struggles her own mother went through raising her and her siblings alone and knew first hand what a struggle she faced.
Married 2nd Herbert Floyd Marple 26 April 1915 Garnett, Anderson Co. Kansas, ended in divorce
DIVORCE ACTION #11054 DISTRICT COURT, IOLA, ALLEN COUNTY, KANSAS
H. FLOYD MARPLE, A MINOR BY WILLARD MARPLE, HIS FATHER AND NEXTFRIEND -- ATTORNEY R. H. BENNETT
VS.
FLOSSIE MARPLE -ATTORNEY F. J. OYLER DIVORCE GRANTED IN FAVOR OF PLAINTIFF 20 DEC 1916
(Note: I think one of the most bizarre things I found when we discovered my Dad's adoption was that the Gardner family attorney was F. J. Oyler and my dad was adopted by the family of Charles Samuel Oyler and Ruby Coltharp, who were living in Washington Co. Oklahoma at the time they got my dad. I've never been able to make a connection of these two Oyler families)
17 Oct 1916 Petition filed. Deposit for Costs $5.00. Precipe filed Summons issued to sheriff of Allen Co. Kan. Returned day Oct 27, 1916, Answer day Nov 16, 1916
Excerpt from petition: "in Oct 1915, while plaintiff was working at the U. S. Smelters he was injured and unable to work for two or three months and thereafter was without steady employment till about April 1916. Abt the later part of May 1916 the defendant moved to her mother's & plaintiff soon found that she was being frequently found in the company of a certain other man and in this way first was able to determine her real purpose in leaving him. ---- he tried to persuade her to return and live with him and she refused to do so. Plaintiff finds that the attention of the other man to her are regular and frequent and from the time she left plaintiff she has not seemed to hesitate to be seen in public places with him very frequently. That one child was born to them but same died in infancy."
21 Oct Affidavit filed by Flossie Marple
excerpt from affidavit: "Affiant admits that she has been in the company of a young man friend of hers, but that she has not kept company with him as alleged in plaintiff's petition, but have only been together occasionaly simply as old acquaintances and friends..
Affiant alleges the fact to be that the plaintiff is more guilty in this regard than she is, for that he has been out with other women upon different occasions, and has been keeping company with other girls, the name of which she will furnish if the court requires; but she would rather not make their names of record in this court or in any way disgrace them unless it becomes necessary to prove the allegations of this affidavit." Mrs. Flossie Marple (signature)
3 Nov Affidavit filed
20 Dec Stipulation filed Recorded Journal V, Page 390
Divorce Proctor's Report filed
27 Dec Receipt filed
27 Dec Decree filed: Divorce granted Dec 20, 1916 in favor of H. Floyd Marple
excerpt from decree of divorce: "that the defendant is guilty of gross neglect of duty toward the plaintiff and has violated her marital agreement with him. It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed that the plaintiff be and he is hereby granted absolute divorce from the defendant because of the fault of the defendant, this divorce, however, not to become absolute and operative until six months from this date, to wit: December 20, 1916"
under Kansas law Flossie was not able to marry for 6 months so she and grandpa went to Ft. Smith, Arkansas to marry. When I first discovered they had married there I wondered why until I found the divorce. No one except her parents and siblings knew of this marriage. Her son Donald was totally unaware and never did know. She threatened everyone within an inch of their life not to divulge her past. Many stories have been told to me about grandma Flossie and what a wild child she was and how haughty she became after she married Frank Parks. I wonder if she knew she was pregnant with son Donald and had to get married in a hurry.
MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE, 8 Jan 1917, Ft. Smith, Sebastian Co. Arkansas Flossie Marple to Eugene Whitaker
Married 3rd Joseph Eugene Whitaker 8 Jan 1917 Ft Smith, Sebastian Co. Arkansas, ended in his death
11 September 1919 Birth of 2nd son, Clarence Ugene Whitaker
1 DEC 1919 Relinquishment Form to Kansas Children's Home Society of 2nd son, Clarence Ugene Whitaker by mother, Mrs. Flossie Whitaker
1920 Washington Co Oklahoma Jefferson twp, 2 Feb 1920, sheet 3b, household 59
Charles S. Oyler 38 Mo father England mo Ill farming
Ruby E 30 Ks father Indiana mother MO
Emma B dtr Ok
Eugene adopted son 3 mos unk US parents unk US
1920 Allen Co. Kansas, Iola city, ed 9, img 34, pg 109b & 110a, household 461, 621 North Oak
Loyd Gardner 19 Ks father Illinois machinist cement plant
Ella mother 52 Mo parents Mo
Chester C brother 24 Ks father Illinois
Flossie Whitaker 23 Ks father Illinois widow
Donald B. Whitaker 2 yrs 3 mos Ks father Texas nephew
the only one working in the household was Loyd
Married 4th Frank Law Parks 3 Mar 1920 Kansas City, Jackson Co. Missouri - no children
1925 Kansas Census Wyandotte Co Ks 254
Frank L Parks 27 Ks truck driver Larson Who Gro
Flossie wife 28
Bruce son 7
Ella Gardner mother in law 56 MO
1930 Kansas City, Wyandotte, KS 943 Lafayette household 330
Frank L Parks 33 Ks parents Ks truck driver oil refinery
Flossie B 33 KS fa ILL mo MO
Donald B son 12 Ks
1940 Kansas City, Wyandotte, Kansas, 2910 Parkwood Bend, April 6-8
Frank Parks 43 Ks oil salesman private business owns property value $4200
Flossie 43 Ks lived same place in April 1, 1935
Donald Bruce 22 son Ks office clerk cleaning company
BETTY GARDNER LESLIE, 1992 on visit to Iola, Kansas - Told me the following:
MR. PARKS HAD ASK TO MARRY HER WITH THE STIPULATION SHE HAD TO FORFEIT ONE OF HER CHILDREN BECAUSE HE DIDN'T FEEL HE COULD SUPPORT ALL OF THEM. SHE AND FRANK LIVED IN IOLA FOR A TIME AFTER THEIR MARRIAGE AS THEY HAD RENTED A HOUSE FROM HER FATHER LLOYD GARDNER (Flossie's brother) AND THEY HAD LEFT A UTILITY BILL UNPAID WHEN THEY VACATED THE PREMISES AND WENT TO KANSAS CITY TO LIVE.
Mrs. Flossie B. Parks, 79, formerly of 1408 N. 38th, died Saturday at a nursing home in Overland Park.
Mrs. Parks was born in Iola, Kansas and was a resident here 54 years. She was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal church, the Ladies Auxiliary Post 83, and the Ladies Auxiliary 8 and 40 of Voiture 762.
Mrs. Parks is survived by a son, Donald B. Parks, Camdenton, Mo. And a brother, William L. Gardner, Iola, Kan.
Services are pending at Gibson-Butler Funeral Home.
MRS. FLOSSIE B. PARKS
Services for Mrs. Flossie B. Parks, 79, formerly of Kansas City, Kansas, will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Gibson-Butler Funeral Home.
Burial will be in the National Cemetery, Ft. Leavenworth. Friends may call after 4 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Mrs. Parks died Saturday at a nursing home in Kansas City, Mo.
DEATH CERTIFICATE NO. 9199 (Stamped) 28 Oct 1976 Kansas State Department of Health, Division of Vital Statistics (copy in my possession)
Deceased: FLOSSIE B. PARKS female Date of Death: Oct 9, 1976 white Age: 79 Date of Birth 1/7/1897 County of Death: Johnson City: Overland Park Hospital or other institution: Royal Hills Nursing Cntr State of Birth: Kansas widowed
SOCIAL SECURITY #514-30-6875 Residence: 1408 N. 38th, Kansas City, Wyandotte Co. Kansas
Father: Chas. Gardner Mother: Luella Powell
Informant: Donald B. Parks, Rt B, Box 8FB, Camdenton, MO 65020
Cause of Death: Artenoscleratic cardiovascular disease Physician Certification: I attended the deceased from 2/75 to 10/9/76. Last saw her alive on 10/8/76 9 A.M.
S. G. Seibel, M.D. (signature) 10/13/76
Burial: Ft. Leavenworth Natl Cem, Ft. Lv., KS 10/13/76 Funeral Home: Gibson & Son, Jos A. butler & Son 19th & Minnesota, KC Ks 66102
Read more of the story on son Donald's memorial where he gave a sermon at his church about my dad's adoption and grandma Flossie.
Married 1st Ellsworth Monroe "Elzie" Dickey Jackson Co Missouri at age 16 - lied about age on marriage cert - 16 Aug 1913 - Divorced - No issue See his memorial for divorce
Married 2nd Herbert Floyd Marple Garnett, Anderson Co Kansas 26 Apri1 1915 - Divorced - 1 son stillborn
Married 3rd Joseph Eugene Whitaker, Ft Smith, Sebastian Co. Arkansas 8 Jan 1917 - ended by grandpa's death - 2 sons
Married 4th Frank Parks, Jackson Co Missouri 3 March 1920 ended by his death - no issue
To my great surprise I received grandma's marriage record from Anderson Co Kansas to discover that she had a previous marriage to Elzie Dickey I knew nothing about. I then discovered she had ran off and married Elzie to Kansas City, Mo when she was 16 years old and lied on her marriage certificate.
To my grandmother, whom I never knew. She had 4 grandchildren she never laid eyes on and never had the joy of loving. She ended up with no other grandchildren, probably a punishment for what she had done is my guess. Through all the secrecy in everyone that was involved in my dad's adoption or knew about it, prevented us from being re-united before grandma's death. Everybody knew but my Dad, including his adoptive siblings, who refused to tell us the truth. I feel so cheated not to have had the opportunity to spend time with our real family before their deaths because everybody knew what was best for my dad. She also had 7 great grandchildren at the time of her death. This story just about broke mine and my Dad's hearts when the real truth emerged. I'll always remember the day I visited her grave and stood and cried. I know her pain was great for what she had done with many regrets. I still love her with all my heart and know she had a difficult decision to make due to her circumstances at the time, but I still think it's the meanest thing a man could do to a woman to ask her to give up a tiny baby for adoption out of his selfishness.
I know our family never forgot about Daddy as I found a letter in his adoption file dated 1923 from Kansas City, which was written by great grandma, Luella Powell Gardner, inquiring if they could see Daddy, but the agency declined and sent them a photograph which was still in the file.
When we re-united with cousins still alive in Iola, Kansas in 1992 we heard all kinds of stories and they told us of their knowledge of what happened. We were received with open arms and joy. When we met Aunt Vada Bell Parks, uncle Don's wife, she just cried because Daddy and Uncle Don looked like twins. She graciously provided all the photos I have on both sides of my grandparents. She also told of the pain Uncle Don experienced wanting to know where his brother was at because he always wanted siblings, but didn't have the first clue where to look. Unfortunately Uncle Don died 6 weeks before I found our family, which was a huge blow. In spite of the denial of our adoptive family I vowed I'd find the truth. It took me a number of years, but piece by piece I made it. It finally took me writing to the Iola newspaper requesting assistance in locating our family. The woman who helped us knew someone who knew our cousin, Betty Gardner Leslie and called her. I'll never forget the first phone call we had, we both cried like babies. We got to meet her at our reunion in 1992 and what a joy she was to be around. It was like we had never been gone.
I know grandma made her choice based on her own childhood of an alcoholic rambling father and watched the struggles her own mother went through raising her and her siblings alone and knew first hand what a struggle she faced.
Married 2nd Herbert Floyd Marple 26 April 1915 Garnett, Anderson Co. Kansas, ended in divorce
DIVORCE ACTION #11054 DISTRICT COURT, IOLA, ALLEN COUNTY, KANSAS
H. FLOYD MARPLE, A MINOR BY WILLARD MARPLE, HIS FATHER AND NEXTFRIEND -- ATTORNEY R. H. BENNETT
VS.
FLOSSIE MARPLE -ATTORNEY F. J. OYLER DIVORCE GRANTED IN FAVOR OF PLAINTIFF 20 DEC 1916
(Note: I think one of the most bizarre things I found when we discovered my Dad's adoption was that the Gardner family attorney was F. J. Oyler and my dad was adopted by the family of Charles Samuel Oyler and Ruby Coltharp, who were living in Washington Co. Oklahoma at the time they got my dad. I've never been able to make a connection of these two Oyler families)
17 Oct 1916 Petition filed. Deposit for Costs $5.00. Precipe filed Summons issued to sheriff of Allen Co. Kan. Returned day Oct 27, 1916, Answer day Nov 16, 1916
Excerpt from petition: "in Oct 1915, while plaintiff was working at the U. S. Smelters he was injured and unable to work for two or three months and thereafter was without steady employment till about April 1916. Abt the later part of May 1916 the defendant moved to her mother's & plaintiff soon found that she was being frequently found in the company of a certain other man and in this way first was able to determine her real purpose in leaving him. ---- he tried to persuade her to return and live with him and she refused to do so. Plaintiff finds that the attention of the other man to her are regular and frequent and from the time she left plaintiff she has not seemed to hesitate to be seen in public places with him very frequently. That one child was born to them but same died in infancy."
21 Oct Affidavit filed by Flossie Marple
excerpt from affidavit: "Affiant admits that she has been in the company of a young man friend of hers, but that she has not kept company with him as alleged in plaintiff's petition, but have only been together occasionaly simply as old acquaintances and friends..
Affiant alleges the fact to be that the plaintiff is more guilty in this regard than she is, for that he has been out with other women upon different occasions, and has been keeping company with other girls, the name of which she will furnish if the court requires; but she would rather not make their names of record in this court or in any way disgrace them unless it becomes necessary to prove the allegations of this affidavit." Mrs. Flossie Marple (signature)
3 Nov Affidavit filed
20 Dec Stipulation filed Recorded Journal V, Page 390
Divorce Proctor's Report filed
27 Dec Receipt filed
27 Dec Decree filed: Divorce granted Dec 20, 1916 in favor of H. Floyd Marple
excerpt from decree of divorce: "that the defendant is guilty of gross neglect of duty toward the plaintiff and has violated her marital agreement with him. It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed that the plaintiff be and he is hereby granted absolute divorce from the defendant because of the fault of the defendant, this divorce, however, not to become absolute and operative until six months from this date, to wit: December 20, 1916"
under Kansas law Flossie was not able to marry for 6 months so she and grandpa went to Ft. Smith, Arkansas to marry. When I first discovered they had married there I wondered why until I found the divorce. No one except her parents and siblings knew of this marriage. Her son Donald was totally unaware and never did know. She threatened everyone within an inch of their life not to divulge her past. Many stories have been told to me about grandma Flossie and what a wild child she was and how haughty she became after she married Frank Parks. I wonder if she knew she was pregnant with son Donald and had to get married in a hurry.
MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE, 8 Jan 1917, Ft. Smith, Sebastian Co. Arkansas Flossie Marple to Eugene Whitaker
Married 3rd Joseph Eugene Whitaker 8 Jan 1917 Ft Smith, Sebastian Co. Arkansas, ended in his death
11 September 1919 Birth of 2nd son, Clarence Ugene Whitaker
1 DEC 1919 Relinquishment Form to Kansas Children's Home Society of 2nd son, Clarence Ugene Whitaker by mother, Mrs. Flossie Whitaker
1920 Washington Co Oklahoma Jefferson twp, 2 Feb 1920, sheet 3b, household 59
Charles S. Oyler 38 Mo father England mo Ill farming
Ruby E 30 Ks father Indiana mother MO
Emma B dtr Ok
Eugene adopted son 3 mos unk US parents unk US
1920 Allen Co. Kansas, Iola city, ed 9, img 34, pg 109b & 110a, household 461, 621 North Oak
Loyd Gardner 19 Ks father Illinois machinist cement plant
Ella mother 52 Mo parents Mo
Chester C brother 24 Ks father Illinois
Flossie Whitaker 23 Ks father Illinois widow
Donald B. Whitaker 2 yrs 3 mos Ks father Texas nephew
the only one working in the household was Loyd
Married 4th Frank Law Parks 3 Mar 1920 Kansas City, Jackson Co. Missouri - no children
1925 Kansas Census Wyandotte Co Ks 254
Frank L Parks 27 Ks truck driver Larson Who Gro
Flossie wife 28
Bruce son 7
Ella Gardner mother in law 56 MO
1930 Kansas City, Wyandotte, KS 943 Lafayette household 330
Frank L Parks 33 Ks parents Ks truck driver oil refinery
Flossie B 33 KS fa ILL mo MO
Donald B son 12 Ks
1940 Kansas City, Wyandotte, Kansas, 2910 Parkwood Bend, April 6-8
Frank Parks 43 Ks oil salesman private business owns property value $4200
Flossie 43 Ks lived same place in April 1, 1935
Donald Bruce 22 son Ks office clerk cleaning company
BETTY GARDNER LESLIE, 1992 on visit to Iola, Kansas - Told me the following:
MR. PARKS HAD ASK TO MARRY HER WITH THE STIPULATION SHE HAD TO FORFEIT ONE OF HER CHILDREN BECAUSE HE DIDN'T FEEL HE COULD SUPPORT ALL OF THEM. SHE AND FRANK LIVED IN IOLA FOR A TIME AFTER THEIR MARRIAGE AS THEY HAD RENTED A HOUSE FROM HER FATHER LLOYD GARDNER (Flossie's brother) AND THEY HAD LEFT A UTILITY BILL UNPAID WHEN THEY VACATED THE PREMISES AND WENT TO KANSAS CITY TO LIVE.
Mrs. Flossie B. Parks, 79, formerly of 1408 N. 38th, died Saturday at a nursing home in Overland Park.
Mrs. Parks was born in Iola, Kansas and was a resident here 54 years. She was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal church, the Ladies Auxiliary Post 83, and the Ladies Auxiliary 8 and 40 of Voiture 762.
Mrs. Parks is survived by a son, Donald B. Parks, Camdenton, Mo. And a brother, William L. Gardner, Iola, Kan.
Services are pending at Gibson-Butler Funeral Home.
MRS. FLOSSIE B. PARKS
Services for Mrs. Flossie B. Parks, 79, formerly of Kansas City, Kansas, will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Gibson-Butler Funeral Home.
Burial will be in the National Cemetery, Ft. Leavenworth. Friends may call after 4 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Mrs. Parks died Saturday at a nursing home in Kansas City, Mo.
DEATH CERTIFICATE NO. 9199 (Stamped) 28 Oct 1976 Kansas State Department of Health, Division of Vital Statistics (copy in my possession)
Deceased: FLOSSIE B. PARKS female Date of Death: Oct 9, 1976 white Age: 79 Date of Birth 1/7/1897 County of Death: Johnson City: Overland Park Hospital or other institution: Royal Hills Nursing Cntr State of Birth: Kansas widowed
SOCIAL SECURITY #514-30-6875 Residence: 1408 N. 38th, Kansas City, Wyandotte Co. Kansas
Father: Chas. Gardner Mother: Luella Powell
Informant: Donald B. Parks, Rt B, Box 8FB, Camdenton, MO 65020
Cause of Death: Artenoscleratic cardiovascular disease Physician Certification: I attended the deceased from 2/75 to 10/9/76. Last saw her alive on 10/8/76 9 A.M.
S. G. Seibel, M.D. (signature) 10/13/76
Burial: Ft. Leavenworth Natl Cem, Ft. Lv., KS 10/13/76 Funeral Home: Gibson & Son, Jos A. butler & Son 19th & Minnesota, KC Ks 66102
Read more of the story on son Donald's memorial where he gave a sermon at his church about my dad's adoption and grandma Flossie.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
