This post is number 23 in the series of the #52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge where a group of us blog about a different ancestor for each week of the year. To learn more about the 52 Ancestor Challenge visit Amy Johnson’s site at Amy’s website.
I chose Ella Belle McDowell because I wanted to do a quick post and get back to my chores. I wanted to add some background information so I did a little research on Ancestry. A couple of hours later…oh my gosh; a familiar name appears and down a rabbit hole I go. But first, a little info on Ella.
The Second Wife
Ella Belle McDowell is the second wife of my two time great grandfather, John T. Pittman. I wrote about John in post #9 of this series. Click here for the story about John. Ella married John in 1900 when she was 29 years old. Well past the median age of 22 for females back in 1900. She became an instant mother to John’s three young girls. John’s first wife, my 2nd great-grandmother, Josephine Woodburn, No. 2 in this series, died in 1892.
Ella’s Background
Ella was born in 1870 in a place called Williams Mill, Caldwell, Kentucky. Her parents are Daniel McDowell and Sarah Poole. Sarah Poole is the second wife of Daniel. His first wife was Harriet Traylor. It’s her name that sent me down the rabbit hole looking for info.
Harriet’s last name Traylor, happens to be the middle name of my second great grandmother, Catherine Traylor Guy. Catherine Guy married David Wayne Roll. Their son, Ollie Roll marries Mabel Pittman, daughter of John Pittman. Traylor is an unusual middle name. Catherine Guy’s mother is Katherine Hickman.
There could be a Traylor on the Hickman side still waiting to be discovered. Or, it is possible that the Guy’s knew a Traylor and bestowed the name on their daughter. Looks like I need to create a diagram and see if I can find crumbs linking them.
Back to Ella
It seems Ella’s life is uneventful, maybe her children would have different stories to tell. Ella died in 1936 in Central City, Kentucky. My mother and grandparents went down to Kentucky to see Grandpa John in 1940 or 1941. I am guessing my mother was about five years at that time. Below are photos of Clarence and Hugh Pittman. The group photo is of my Aunt Patricia Howes Adcock, my grandparents, Olive Roll Howes and Hugh A. Howes, and Finis Pittman.
John Pittman outlived both his wives. He passed away in 1956.
L-R Patricia Howes Adcock, Olive Roll Howes, Finis Pittman, and Hugh A. Howes
Sources:
Median Age of Marriage: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0005061.html
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