Charles Fredrick Trumbold
Charles Fredrick Trumbold was born on November 1, 1846, in Saxony, Germany (his marriage certificate says Wimar, Saxony, Germany) to Johan George and Johannah Trumbold. He came to the United States with his family when he was about 3 years old and settled in New Jersey for approximately 8 years.
According to the 1860 census1, his brother, George, is listed as being born in 1858 in Iowa. At the time the census was taken, his mother, Joanna, was the head of the family of eight children and they were living in Volga Township, Clayton County (Communia Post Office). Charlie was 14 and apparently his father was deceased.
In 1861, his sister, Emma, married Frank Meyer. In 1863, his mother married John Daniel Ernst and was given 80 acres in Highland Township (Clayton County) by Mr. Ernst on the day of their marriage. Presumably Charles and his siblings moved with their mother to this farm and the farming would have fallen to Charlie (age17), Augustus (age 16), and Herman (age 13). The next year, Augustus, at the age of 17 joined the Iowa Cavalry to fight in the Civil War for one year from October 1864 to September 1865.
On July 15, 1865, Hannah Ernst transferred the land she received from John Ernst to Charles, August, Herrmann, Hannah, and Mary Trumboldt. In 1867 Johanna Ernst bought another 80 acres adjoining her farm in Highland Township from Leander and Eleanor Read.
By the time the 1870 Iowa census2 was taken, another sister, Elizabeth, either married or died; brother George probably died; Mr. Ernst had died; Gus had moved to Pittsfield, Illinois (in 1868); and the family had moved to Highland Township in Clayton County. Their Post Office is listed as Strawberry Point in the 1870 census.
When their mother died on November 30, 1870, Charlie and Hermann farmed the 160 acres left to them by their mother. On October 16, 1872, Charlie became a naturalized citizen in Clayton County, Highland Township, Iowa.3
In August 1877, Hannah, his sister, married August "Gus" Holzer and moved to Elgin, Iowa. In August 1879, the children sold the farm4,5. Hermann moved to Nebraska in the spring of 1880, Mary married Stewart Coventry in March 1880, Charlie held the equipment auction sale on March 20, 18806, and, presumably shortly thereafter, Charlie moved to Illinois.
On November 1, 1883, his 37th birthday, Charles F. Trumbold married Anna Elizabeth Ritter (29 years old) near Mt. Sterling, Illinois.7 Anna was the sister of Charlie's brother, August's, wife (Lucinda); therefore, brothers married sisters.
We don't know exactly how and when they met - the Trombolds were living in Pittsfield, Illinois, at the time. Anna had moved with her family from Washington Courthouse, Ohio, in 1856 and her father was living in Mt. Sterling, yet on the marriage license, the bride and groom are shown as being from Lee township.
In 1884 their first child, Leslie Oscar, was born. His twin sister, Bertha, died immediately. A second son, Paul Elmer, was born in 1888. [See Leslie and Elmer's information at the bottom of this page.]
In early 1890, Anna inherited approximately $285 after her father's death. On March 8, 1890, Anna E. Trumbold loaned $175 for a mortgage taken by William McGhee for 25 acres in Pea Ridge Township.8 They paid off this mortgage to Anna on August 23, 1892. She also held the mortgage for Henry and Annie Nokes for $142 dated March 22, 1890.9 This mortgage was paid back to Anna on November 15, 1892.
On February 5, 1891, Charles F. Trumbold and John P. Ritter (Anna's brother) purchased 120 acres just south of the Damon community in Pea Ridge township.10 They purchased this property for $3300 from James McCaffry and his wife along with the assumption of their $800 mortgage on the property.
In October 1892, a third son, Ernest Fredrick, was born but lived only six weeks.
On February 6, 1896, Charles and Anna Trumbold transfer this property to John P. Ritter for $1000 plus Ritter's assumption of 2 mortgages, each for $800, with Theodore Poling. One of the mortgages was due January 7, 1896, and the other was due February 10, 1896.11
On February 29, 1896, Charles F. Trumbold bought 120 acres from Herman and Mary Ann Ebbing located in Pea Ridge Township near Damon, less than a mile from their previous property. They paid $2150 and assumed the mortgage Ebbing made to Theodore Poling on December 4, 1893 for $875. Possession of the property is reserved for the Ebbings until March 15, 1896.12
On September 22, 1900, Charles F. Trumbold and Anna E. Trumbold deeded the land back to Herman Ebbing. The Trumbolds reserved the crops for 1900 and arranged to keep possession of the land until March 1, 1901.13
Around 1901 the family took the train to Cashion, Oklahoma to homestead but they were too late to get any land. They worked there awhile and, in the spring of 1902, came back in a covered wagon stopping in Paydown, Missouri, near Belle, to work through the summer. We don't know what work he did, but the railroad was laying new track through this area between 1900 - 1904.
Charlie was one of the first elders (1892 - 1917) of the Pell Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Damon established in December 1891.14
It is said that he went barefooted most of the time except to go to town or church; then he carried his shoes until he got there and took them off as soon as he was on the way home. And his father-in-law was a shoemaker.
Charles Fredrick Trumbold, age 70, died at his home in Pea Ridge township, Brown County, Illinois on May 25, 1917, at 645am of carcinoma of the bowels after having been sick for two years. The death certificate lists Charles' occupation as "farmer".15 He is buried in Mt. Sterling Cemetery with his wife.
Anna Trumbold purchased a house (located immediately north of the Methodist Church) in Timewell, Illinois, from Elmer E. and Florence Bradney in 1917 after the death of her husband. Her son, Leslie, and his family also lived there with their children for 46 years. Prior to the purchase of this house, she had also lived with Leslie when he and his wife lived on the "Sanny" Nokes place near Mt. Sterling.
She is said to have been a short (under 5'), small woman who had a crippled right arm that was stiff at the elbow. Few pictures of her survive but most of the pictures we have of Trumbold and Ritter family members in that generation were hers. She had a photo album of formal family pictures dating from the late 1800s that she gave to her grandson, Donald Trumbold.
Anna Elizabeth Ritter Trumbold, age 82, died at home in Timewell at 8am on June 29, 1937, of organic heart disease (other contributory causes were Bright's disease and neuritis)16. She was buried in Mt. Sterling Cemetery next to her husband.
OBITUARY - Charles Frederic (sic) Trumbold17
Charles Frederic Trumbold was born in Saxony, Germany, November 1, 1846, departed this life at his home north of Timewell May 25, 1917, aged 70 years, 6 months and 24 days. He came to this country when only about 6 years of age. On November 1, 1883, he was united in marriage to Anna Ritter, who with two sons are left to mourn the death of a loving husband and father. He also leaves three little grandchildren, one brother and two sisters, besides other relatives and a host of friends. Everything that loving hands could do was done to relieve his suffering, but to no avail. This is a reminder of the fact that when death confronts us His powers are invincible. During his entire sickness Mr. Trumbold was a patient sufferer; was always cheerful.
We do not mourn the death of our departed brother without hope. In the year 1892 he gave his heart to Christ and united with the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Damon. In one year he became an elder in the church, which office he held until his death. Mr. Trumbold has lived a consecrated Christian life, and has always been honest and upright in his dealings with his fellow men.
"Dearest father how we miss thee,
And our eyes are wet with tears,
For our home will not tomorrow
Be like that of other years.
Though our trials here are heavy
And we bow beneath the weight,
There's a home beyond the valley,
Just inside the pearly gates.
Listen to the angels' voices
As they whisper passing by
Weeping ones come o'er the valley
To our home beyond the sky."
Card of Thanks
The family desires to thank the neighbors and friends for their kindness during the sickness and death of their husband and father.
Source Notes
1. 1860 Federal census for Iowa, Clayton County.
2. 1870 Iowa census for Iowa, Clayton County.
3. Naturalization Record, Charley Trumbold, October 14, 1872, Clayton County, Iowa.
4. Deed, Chas. F. Trumbold, Herman Trumbold, Mary C. Trumbold, August and Lucinda Trumbold, Hannah and August Holzer to James Kerr, Sr., August 20, 1879, Clayton County, Iowa, Book 50, page 227 (S2NW, S17, T93N, R6W, 5PM).
5. Deed, Charles F. Trumbold and Herman Trumbold to James Kerr, Sr., August 19, 1879, Clayton County, Iowa, Book 51, page 18 (SENE and NESE, S18, T93N, R6W, 5PM).
6. "Auction Sale", the Elkader Register [Iowa], February 19, 1880.
7. Marriage License, Charles F. Trumbold and Annie E. Ritter, October 31, 1883, Brown County, Illinois.
8. Indenture, William and Ada A. McGhee to Anna E. Trumbold, March 8, 1890, Brown County, Illinois, [NW1/4 of SW1/4 of Section 12].
9. Indenture, Henry and Annie Nokes to Anna E. Trumbold, March 22, 1890, Brown County, Illinois [NWNE S31 T1N, R4W, 4PM].
10. Deed, James and Syntha McCaffry to Charles F. Trumbold and John P. Ritter, February 5, 1891, Brown County, Illinois, #26736, page 306 [W2SW S12 and NESE S11 T1N R4W, 4PM].
11. Deed, Charles F. Trumbold and Anna E. Trumbold to John P. Ritter, February 6, 1896, Brown County, Illinois, page 460 [W2SW S12 and NESE S11 T1N R4W, 4PM] .
12. Deed, Herman and Mary A. Ebbing to Charles F. Trumbold, February 29, 1896, Brown County, Illinois, #31779, Book 65, page 449 [E2SE S15 and NWNW S23 T1N R4W, 4PM].
13. Charles F. and Anna E. Trumbold to Herman Ebbing, September 22, 1900, #37086, page 542 [E2SE S15 and NWNW S23 T1N R4W, 4PM].
14. History of Brown County, Illinois, 1880-1970, The Brown County Board of the Schuyler Brown Historical and Genealogical Society, 1972, Stevens Publishing Company, Astoria, Illinois, page 358.
15. Death certificate, Chas F Trumbold, Brown County, Illinois, #6073.
16. Death certificate, Anna E. Trumbold, Brown County, Illinois #4065
17. Obituary, Charles Frederic Trumbold, Democrat-Message (Mt. Sterling, Illinois). June 1, 1917.
_______________
Leslie Oscar Trumbold
(son of Charles F. Trumbold)
Leslie Oscar "Les" Trumbold was born August 3, 1884, on the 120-acre family farm near Damon. His twin sister, Bertha, died the same day. His brother, Paul Elmer, was born December 26, 1888, in Mt. Sterling, Illinois. Another brother, Ernest Fredrick, was born October 12, 1892, but died 6 weeks later on November 24.
In 1901 when Leslie was 16 and his brother was 12, their family moved to Cashion, Oklahoma, to get a land grant. In the spring of 1902, however, they returned in a covered wagon arriving in Brown County in the fall. Leslie and his brother, for the most part, grew up in Pea Ridge township.
The Mullens also lived in this neighborhood. There were three boys approximately the same ages as the two Trumbold brothers. Their sister, Mattie Mullen, was later to marry Paul Elmer Trumbold. It was also through the Mullens that Leslie would meet his future bride, Ruth Bradney. She was born October 15, 1893, to Elmer E. and Dora May Nokes Bradney. Ruth's mother died when Ruth was just 13 years old and Ruth was raised by her Aunt Josie (Josephine Nokes Bowen). Aunt Josie was also Mattie Mullen's aunt so the two girls grew up as very good friends.
Leslie Trumbold and Ruth Bradney were married on November 11, 1913 (what was later to become Armistice Day) in the home of L. G. Huff, the Christian Church minister in Mt. Sterling, Illinois.1 He was 29 and she was 20 years old. Their witnesses were Elmer Trumbold and Mattie Mullen. The Democrat-Message (Mt. Sterling, Illinois) newspaper account2 relates
"Married at Christian Parsonage.
Leslie O. Trumbold and Miss Ruth Bradney, both of Timewell, were married yesterday morning at 830 at the parsonage of the Christian church, the pastor, Rev. L. G. Huff, performing the ceremony. They were accompanied by the groom's brother, Elmer Trumbold, and Miss Mattie Mullen, also of Timewell. The newly married pair left on the 905 train for Timewell, where they will make their home. Their many friends wish them much happiness and prosperity."
"Leslie Trumbold and Miss Ruth Bradney were married Tuesday morning. They were greeted Tuesday night at his parents' home in Pea Ridge by a big party of friends from Timewell." "Leslie Trumbold and wife expect to go to Canton to live this winter." Family lore says that her father, Elmer E. Bradney, went to the train station on the day they were leaving and talked them into staying in the Timewell area.
They set up housekeeping at the "Sanny" Nokes Place in Lee Township and had two daughters Anna Mae, born August 15, 1914 and Irma Ruth, born November 27, 1916.
In 1917 after Charles Fredrick Trumbold died, Leslie, Ruth, and their two small children (Anna Mae and Irma Ruth) moved into Timewell to live in his mother's newly purchased house. There they had two more children - Donald Owen, born January 14, 1919; and Mary Olive, born February 25, 1924.
Leslie spent most of his life in the Damon/Timewell vicinity. He attended Brown County rural schools (Pell School in Pea Ridge Township), was a member of the Timewell Christian Church, and Kendrick Lodge #430 AF&AM. He was engaged in farm work and for some time he operated a tiling machine in drainage districts in the Mississippi and Illinois River bottoms. He also operated the tiling machine for drainage of many of the farms in Brown County.
He was also a store clerk and did painting and decorating. He was on the Timewell Village Board and served for a time as its president (similar to being a mayor of a town).
Leslie lived in the house in Timewell for 46 years (from 1917 until his death). His most enjoyable hobby was reading but he also enjoyed gardening and making hand-loomed rugs. (The loom that Grandpa and Grandma Trumbold used was passed down to Irma Allen, then to Carol Trumbold, then to Ruth Weber).
On November 11, 1963, Leslie and Ruth celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends in the Timewell Christian Church.
Just ten days later at 8:30am on November 21, 1963, Leslie Trumbold died suddenly from a myocardial infarction while at home. The death certificate3 says that he had arteriosclerotic heart disease for 15 years. He also had a history of back problems. Leslie is buried at Mound Cemetery northwest of Timewell, with his wife, Ruth.
OBITUARY
"Leslie O. Trumbold, Brown County Native, Dies At Age 79
Leslie O. Trumbold, 79 years of age, a resident of Timewell, died suddenly in his home last Thursday morning at 830. His death was attributed to an apparent heart attack. He had spent most of his life in the Timewell vicinity, where he engaged in painting and decorating.
Mr. Trumbold was born in Mt. Sterling August 3, 1884, a son of Charles F. and Anna Elizabeth Ritter Trumbold. He attended Brown county rural schools; was a member of the Timewell Christian church, and Kendrick Lodge No. 430 A.F. & A.M.
On November 11, 1913 he was united in marriage in Mt. Sterling with Ruth Bradney, who survives.
He also leaves to mourn daughters, Mrs. Anna Brake, Colchester, Mrs. Irma Allen, Tucson, Ariz., and Miss Mary Trumbold of Chicago; a son, Donald Trumbold of Shelbyville; a brother, P. E. Trumbold of Chillicothe; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon, Nov. 23rd, in the Timewell Christian church, services in charge of the pastor, Rev. Jerry Elmore. Mrs. O. E. Binkley was pianist.
Casketbearers were Oral Lee Brake, Orrie Binkley, Harlan Nelson, Floyd Hill, Verlin Perry and Richard Moore. Miss Marjorie Cleaves, Mrs. John Gieker, Mrs. Oral Lee Brake and Mrs. Donald Wilson were flowerbearers. Burial was in the Mound cemetery. Masonic funeral services were held at 8 o'clock Friday evening in the Rounds Funeral Chapel with Floyd Hill as Worshipful Master, Harlan Nelson as Chaplain and Gifford Wilkey, secretary."4
More on Ruth Bradney
Ruth Bradney was born and grew up on the Old Bradney Place in Lee Township, Brown County, Illinois near Fargo. When she was about 9 years old (1901-1902), she went with her family by train to Oleander, California, where they stayed for a couple of years. Her father, Elmer, was working in a fruit packing plant. They returned by way of Olathe, Kansas, where her father worked as a carpenter until 1904.
In 1905 her mother, Dora May Nokes Bradney, died and Ruth, at age 13, had to take on much responsibility for the household.
She attended Western Normal School for two years and graduated with her teaching certificate. She returned to Brown County to teach school in the one-room Fargo school for one year (1912-1913) at a monthly salary of $40.5 In 1912 she became the first initiate of the newly formed Timewell chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star No. 700.
Ruth operated a restaurant and soda shop in Timewell from 1929 to 1938, during the Great Depression. This was the local hangout for young and old alike. According to Mary O. Trumbold Wallace, Ruth borrowed the money ($250) from Paul Elmer Trumbold (her brother-in-law/"Uncle Slim") to buy the store from Doc Davis. She paid him back and the 10 years rent to Tarbox when she sold the store to Ruth Norton. Irma Trumbold Adams operated the store for awhile in 1939 or 1940.
For 25 years (1938 to 1963), she was the bookkeeper at the Timewell Elevator Company operated by Clyde Cutforth and Howard Deterding. She was a member of the Timewell Christian Church.
After Les died in 1963, Ruth held an auction of their property on September 5, 1964, and moved to a trailer on her daughter and son-in-law's (the Brake's) property in Colchester, Illinois. She was employed as a companion for several elderly women in Macomb. In 1977 she broke her hip but was otherwise fairly strong except for chronic arthritis. In 1985, she entered LaMoine Nursing Center in Roseville, Illinois, and died there at 830am on October 12, 1989, of cardiorespiratory failure and a possible acute cerebrovascular accident (stroke).6 She is buried in Mound Cemetery in Timewell, Illinois, with her husband.
OBITUARY
Ruth Trumbold - Colchester
Ruth B. Trumbold, 95, of Colchester died at 830 am Thursday (Oct. 12, 1989) at the LaMoine Christian Nursing Center in Roseville.
Born Oct. 15, 1893, in Timewell to Elmer E. and Dora Nokes Bradney, she married Leslie O. Trumbold on Nov. 11, 1913, in Mt. Sterling. He died Nov. 21, 1963. She also was preceded in death by one brother and one sister.
Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Anna Mae Brake, Mrs. Irma Allen and Mrs. Mary O. Wallace, all of Colchester; one son, Donald O. of Shelbyville; seven grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
She lived in Timewell until 1964 when she moved to Colchester. She was a bookkeeper for 25 years and taught school for a few years. She was a 77-year member of the Colchester Order of Eastern Star. She was a member of the Colchester First Christian Church and the Gleaners Class of the church.
Services will be at 11 am Saturday at Jones Mortuary in Colchester. The Rev. David McHenry will officiate. Calling hours will be after 9 am today until the time of services at the mortuary. Burial will be in Mounds Cemetery in Timewell.
Memorials may be made to the LaMoine Christian Nursing Home.7
Source Notes
1. Marriage certificate and license, Leslie O. Trumbold and Ruth Bradney, Brown County, Illinois, November 11, 1913.
2. Married at Christian Parsonage, The Democrat-Message, Mt. Sterling, Illinois, November 12, 1913.
3. Death certificate, Leslie Oscar Trumbold, Brown County, Illinois, #362, November 21, 1963.
4. Leslie O. Trumbold, Brown County Native, Dies at 79, The Democrat-Message, Mt. Sterling, Illinois, November, 1963.
5. History of Brown County, Illinois, 1880-1970, The Brown County Board of the Schuyler Brown Historical and Genealogical Society, 1972, Stevens Publishing Company, Astoria, Illinois, page 358.
6. Death certificate, Ruth B. Trumbold, Warren County, Illinois, October 12, 1989.
7. Death notice, Ruth Trumbold, Peoria [Illinois] Journal Star, October 13, 1989.
________________
Paul Elmer Trumbold
(Son of Charles F. Trumbold)
Paul Elmer Trumbold was born December 26, 1888, in Mt. Sterling, Illinois, and grew up on the family farm near Damon in Pea Ridge township. The Trumbold brothers, "Les" and "Slim", were very close throughout their lives, and were very good lifelong friends (and Elmer was later an in-law) with the Mullen boys (Orville, Oral, and Roy) who also lived in the Pea Ridge neighborhood. Elmer worked with Leslie in Tipton, Iowa, and in Canton, Illinois.
Elmer Trumbold, 26, married Mattie [Pearl] Mullen, 24, on March 21, 1915. The ceremony was performed in Timewell, Illinois, Brown County, by William A. Taylor, Minister of the Gospel. On the marriage license, Elmer stated that he was a construction foreman and was born in Mt. Sterling. The witnesses to this marriage were Leslie O. and Ruth B. Trumbold. (Elmer and Mattie had witnessed Leslie and Ruth's marriage two years earlier.)1
On March 28, 1916, their first son, Gerald Elmer, was born near Timewell.
In 1917, Elmer and Mattie moved to Chillicothe, Illinois, to work for the Sante Fe Railroad. The Mullen twins already worked for the railroad as conductors and helped Elmer get a position. Elmer would work for the railroad as a conductor until he retired in (1956)?. Coincidentally, even their address was related to railroading - 1212 N. Santa Fe Street.
Two more sons, James Roy Fredrick (June 25, 1918) and Russell Eugene (July 17, 1919) were born in Chillicothe.
The L. O. and P. E. Trumbolds would spend summers and vacation time together for many years. Not only were the brothers close but Mattie and Ruth Trumbold had become fast friends when they were both teenagers.
Elmer and Mattie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on March 25, 1965, at the Chillicothe First Methodist Church.
On June 17, 1965, P. E. Trumbold passed away in Chillicothe, Illinois. Just 4 months later, Mattie Trumbold passed away on October 30, 1965. Both are buried in the Chillicothe City Cemetery.
More about Mattie Mullen
Mattie Pearl Mullen was born October 6, 1890, to James Arnold "Arny" Mullen and Amy Bowen and had six brothers and sisters the twins Oral B. and Orville J, born in 1888; Roy L., born September 17, 1892; Ralph; Lillian; and Jenny. The Mullens lived approximately two miles north of Timewell and the Trumbolds lived approximately six miles north of Timewell. The families attended the same school and church in Pea Ridge township.
Mattie's mother, Amy, was a sister to Jimmy D. Bowen who married Josephine Nokes. Therefore, Josephine Nokes Bowen was an aunt to both Mattie and Ruth Trumbold although the two women were not related to each other except as in-laws. These two girls called each other "sister" probably even before they were married to brothers.
OBITUARY
"Dies At 76
Paul Elmer Trumbold, 76, of 1212 N. Santa Fe Ave., a retired Santa Fe Railroad conductor, died at 1115 a.m. Thursday, June 17 at Parkhill Nursing Home, Chillicothe, Ill., where he had been a patient three weeks. He had been in ill health for three months.
A resident of Chillicothe for the last 48 years, he was born in Mt. Sterling, Dec. 26, 1888, a son of Charles E. (sic) and Anna Ritter Trumbold. He was married in Timewell, March 21, 1915 to Mattie Mullen, who survives.
Also surviving are three sons, Gerald of Eureka, Roy of Geneva and Russell Trumbold of Chillicothe; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
He was a member of the Chillicothe Methodist church, the George Washington Lodge 222 AF & AM of Chillicothe, Peoria Consistory and Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen.
Services were at 2 pm Saturday, June 19, at the Robert Anderson Mortuary, the Rev. Wm. C. Jones officiating. Burial was in the Chillicothe City cemetery."2
Source Notes
1. Marriage License, Elmer Trumbold and Mattie Mullen, Brown County, Illinois, March 21, 1915.
2. Obituary, Paul Elmer Trumbold, Peoria Journal Star.
