| Notes |
- Mary May Kimball a.k.a. "Lula Weaver" (1873 1950) Mary May Kimball was born 27 March 1873 in the Village of Hesperia, Michigan, according to family records. This village lies on the Oceana and Newaygo County line and thus lies in both Newfield and Denver Townships. Her birth was not recorded in either county, but because her parents were living in Newaygo County as late as 1870, it is probably safe to assume that her birthplace was in the east side of Hesperia, in Denver Township, Newaygo County. Her parents were Benjamin Henry Kimball, a Civil War veteran, and Lucy May Dickinson. She was their youngest child because her mother died at or shortly after her birth. Her older siblings were: William Arthur Kimball (b. 1866); George Ezra Kimball (b. 1868); and Leota Nellie Kimball (Mrs. George E. Whitman) (b. 1870). Mary s father married Lydia J. Dorwin on 3 July 1873, when she was 2 months old. Her maternal aunt, Mary E. Dickinson, and her husband, Philip Henry Weaver, raised her. It must have been confusing to have two Marys in the same household; at any rate, little Mary was nicknamed Lula , in honor of her mother Lucy, and is often referred to as Lula Weaver . She had five cousins/foster siblings as well: Emma A. (Weaver) Seymour (1857 1928); Ella L. (Weaver) Husband (1858 1941); Angeletta Lettie (Weaver) Wilson (1860 1932); Dr. Leland S. Lee Weaver (1863 1941); and Mabella F. Mable (Weaver) Boyle (1879 1902). Mary and Philip also had one other child who died young. In 1892, Lula married Angelo Merrick Robbins, Sr. in Hesperia. He was a schoolteacher, so they lived in various areas of Newaygo County, wherever he could find a teaching job, such as Denver, Woodville and Ensley Townships. Their children were: Floyd Arthur Robbins (1893 1916); Lloyd R. Robbins (1894 1978); my great-grandfather, William Bryan Bill Robbins (1896 1972); Reva L. Robbins (1898 1926); Angelo Merrick Robbins, II (1904 1982); and Donald Charles Robbins (1914 2000). A stillborn son was born 11 July 1906. Lula saw many sorrows in her lifetime. Her eldest son Floyd died at the young age of 22 after contracting pneumonia. Her sons Lloyd and Bill faced the dangers of chemical warfare in the trenches of World War I. Her only daughter Reva suffered from mental illness and was placed in Traverse City State Hospital, Traverse County, Michigan, where she later committed suicide. Her husband Angelo died as a result of a burst appendix on 16 July 1923. At this time, they were living in their own house at 1130 Reynolds Street in Ward 3 of Muskegon Heights, Muskegon County, Michigan. Happier days came later, when, on 4 December 1928, Lula married a widower, Orlando Horace Kenfield in the City of Muskegon, Muskegon County. For many years they lived at 2782 East Broadway Avenue in Fruitport Township, Muskegon County. When Lula became an invalid, Orlando cared for her as tenderly as any nurse. She died of a stroke on the 27th of December, 1950 at home, and was buried three days later in Mona View Cemetery, Muskegon Heights, next to her daughter Reva and her first husband Angelo. She outlived three children, but enjoyed knowing many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. More about my great-great-grandmother, Mary May Kimball, will be found in the biographies of her husband Angelo Merrick Robbins, Sr. and her son William Bryan Bill Robbins.. Thanks to Dad and Grandpa for the stories. Photos courtesy of Bob Robbins. Top photo: Lula and two of her great-grandchildren, c. 1945. Bottom photo: Lula and Orlando, seated on porch, with Angelo, Jr. and two of Lula's grandchildren, c. 1946. Miriam (Robbins) Midkiff 1 June 2003 kidmiff@juno.com
|
- 1873
