OutlineHorace Albert (Bert) Kersey and Rebecca Jane DomenyInfant Son Kersey Martha Emza Kersey & Julius Wayne Grutzmacher Robert Wayne Grutzmacher & Betty Lou Skinner Wayne Truman Grutzmacher & Carol Whitmeier Janette Louise Grutzmacher Rebecca Ann Grutzmacher & Carl Robert Mc Nulty Kimber Wayne McNulty Jumper & Candace Knowlan Rebecca Ann Grutzmacher & Vernon Lee Jumper CharlesRobert Jumper James Mark Jumper & Lisa Long Brenton Mark Jumper Sarah Elizabeth Jumper Ryan Christopher Jumper Matthew Brian Jumper & Sheri Ann Craig Timothy Garrett Jumper Matthew Blake Jumper Julia Ann Jumper & John Meier, Michael S. Neuenschwander, Vance Allen Reynolds Nicolas Allen Reynolds Michael Scott Neuenschwander Fleda LaVanch Kersey & Guy Buford (Pete) Dailey Betty Jean Dailey & Walter Jarold (Jerry) Brotherson Wade Alan Brotherson & Kathleen Marie Finnerty Matthew Sean Brotherson Briana Marie Brotherson Dean Walter Brotherson & Sheila Wayne Cattee Ashleigh Marie Brotherson Sarah Alaine Brotherson Ruth Alice Dailey & Charles Edward Becker Linda Becker & Terrence Schmitt Clara Frances Schmitt Claire Becker & Charles Brown, Edward Kinter Burt Edward Brown Julie Elaine Brown Fred Dowdell Charles Brown Scott Brown Kathy Becker & Jeffery Breed Jennifer Allison Breed Bruce Francis Becker Guy Charles (Pete) Becker & Becky Ann Blackbourn Jason Charles Becker & Jennifer Sather Jane Elizabeth Becker 4 8 42 90 102 110 117 140 134 146 149

154

159

167 185

198

Robert George Kersey & Ruby St. John Helen Louise Kersey & Norman W. Crane Nancy Ann Crane & Jeff Germany Sam Germany Robert Russell Crane & Marilyn Jennifer Ann Crane Eric Crane Susan Louise Crane & Alan Hewitt Oliver Ian Hewitt Roberta Ann Kersey & Martin Duane Tibbits Jed Kersey Tibbetts & Darci Jones Jarod Tibbetts Jessica Tibbetts Christopher Martin Tibbetts & Coeta Becker Rachel Tibbetts Michael Robert Tibbetts & Shannon Clecton Steven Francis Tibbetts & Cheri Henning Clara Rebecca Kersey & Glenn Harry (Fritz) Fritzler Horace Howard Kersey & Opal Harriet Huss Kay Agnes Kersey & Jack Bailey Schwartz Eric Howard Schwartz & Diane Marie King Everett Anderson King Schwartz Richelle Kay Schwartz Geoffery Louis Schwartz & Melaney McCleary Kristin Kay Schwartz & Stephen Eric Brown Hannah Aught Schwartz Brown Albert Kent Kersey & Sharon Kay Reynolds Agnes Bernice Kersey Sarah Lucile Kersey & William J. Strickland Sally Kersey Strickland & Bruce Hamaker, Chuck Koffman Lori Ann Hamaker & Reginald Clark Ian Randall Clark Tye Jarrett Clark Lisa Diane Hamaker & Richard Johnson David Charles Koffman William J. Strickland & Janice Marie Berry William Douglas Strickland James Frederick Strickland & Tami Ann Breyer Mason James Strickland Lorena Ruth Kersey & Newman Lane Hart Gary Kersey Hart & Cary Smith Elissa Righter Hart Katherine Fritzler Hart Laura Halsey Hart Esther Elizabeth Kersey & Robert Bolton, Jr.,William F. McGrath Westmoreland & So. Cal. Photos

209 228

236

244 276 294

305 315 328 349

357

367 382

399 429

202

(1-5-79)

dS-dfu-r-,o----[ /, \No,

Name Horace Albert Kersey Rebecca Jane DomenyMartha ElIza Kersey

Bom July 21, 1810 Feb. 12, 1871Sept., 22, 1898 Nov. 29, 1900June 11, 1902

Died. June 20, 1947 Sept. 10, 1955 (L)~ 7;/' (L) (t)(L)

12

J "4 .5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Fleda 18 Vanche KerseyRobert. George Kersey

Clara Rebecca Kersey Horace Howard Kersey Agnes Bemce Kersey Sarah weUle Ruth Kersey Kersey

May15, 1904Jan. 10, 1906 Jan, 12, 1908 Feb, 5, 1910 Dee, 20, 1911 sept. 2, 1914

Jan. 21, 1979 June 21, 1946 (L) (L) (1)

Esther Elizabeth Kersey

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Horace Alberthg_

Kersey (known as Bert.) waG born near Lou1sville.f'tno

Kansas,

See p. 200 AM '01

.n~.ortry.

Ma'r.rtod. R.boo~

400 ) ln Vaaego, KanSaS OCtober 1),

18m.

.JAriO Do.!.n;y ( eoo Famed ill Louisville area,

Had a Ford car agency 1n Westaoreland.,Kansas statePottawatoal.

KS, served one te:tlt (192S) in theserved two terM as sheriff of( Co:wnrsdu and Chula V1ata )

House of Representat.1v8s,Count-y.

Lived 1n Oallfom1a.

after 1929.

).,..

Se. page 20lfliee .Page 206

6.. Clara K8re.y

11M born near Louisville, Kansas, graduated froll Westmoreland High School in 19221 was married in Wamego, Kan8&8 in 1925 to Glenn Harry Frt tiller of Herrington, Kansas, "Fri'tl&'t graduat.ecl f'TOII Oreigh'ton Universi t.,y school ot pharmacy, served 1n France 1n World War I. The rrttalem operated. the elm. store in WSRt.lIn,...bntJ A"tI in t1aTrda10. Jor.~.k&. :Flrl .. NaG iIIho Uo1t.on Clinic phanaclst ift Holton, Kan8as for lUd1y years. He is r-,ITTftnt.ly retired. and lives ( along with Clara ) 1n Holton.

7. Se. Pas- 210

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lt

AgnM Kersey AS bom 1n Louisville, g1'8.d11ated fro. Westaoreland. Ji1.rI:h In 1926.. Worked In San Diego, CA, died or d.iabetes, Did not u.rry.

9. Se. Page 21210. See Pa,:. 21411 'hor

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Lived in Cbba, San Diego, Long Beach. Ho11.Jwoodw Washington, D. C, No children.. After being divorced, llamed Wll11alt Fe M~n.th.. LiVed in Paeif'1c Beach, no chlldren. Had her own antique stoTe. Hr. McGrath passed away in 1117.

Naval Aoad.1IY graduate,

Husband: Horace Albert KerseyBorn: Married: Died: Burial: Father: Mother: July 21, 1870 October 13, 1897 July 27, 1947 Robert Butler Kersey Martha Mariah Tetter Other Spouses: in: in: in: in: Pottawatomie County, Kansas Louisville, Kansas Chula Vista, California Glen Abbey Memorial Park, Bonita, California

Wife: Rebecca Jane DomenyBorn: Died: Burial: Father: Mother: February 12,1877 September 12, 1955 George Washinton Domeny Emza Ann Dixon Other Spouses: in: Vinton County, Ohio in: Chula Vista, California in: Glen Abbey Memorial Park, Bonita, California

CHILDRENName: Born: Died: Burial: Married: Spouse: Name: Born: Died: Burial: Married: Spouse: Name: Born: Died: Burial: Married: Spouse: Name: Born: Died: Burial: Married: Spouse: Name: Born: Died: Burial: Married: Spouse: Martha Emza Kersey September 22, 1898 May 7, 1980 April 14, 1920 Julius Wayne Grutzmacher Fleda La Vanche Kersey November 29, 1900 January 12, 1985 September 06, 1923 Guy Buford Dailey Robert George Kersey June 11, 1902 October 14, 1989 July 18, 1922 Ruby St John Clara Rebecca Kersey May 15, 1904 in: in: in: in: Westmoreland, Kansas Lemon Grove, California Glen Abbey Memorial Park, Bonita, California Topeka, Kansas

in: in: in: in:

Pottawatomie County, Kansas Mahattan, Kansas Wamego, Ks. Cemetery Westmoreland, Kansas

in: in: in: in:

Newkirk, Oklahoma Wamego, Kansas Wamego, Ks. Cemetery Ordway, Colorado

in: Pottawatomie, Kansas in:

June 21, 1925 Glenn Harry Fritzler Horace Howard Kersey January 10, 1906 January 21, 1979 December OS, 1930 Opal Harriet Huss in: in: in: in: Pottawatomie County Chula Vista, California Glen Abbey Memorial Park, Bonita, California Topeka, Kansas

Name: Agnes Bernice Kersey Born: January 12, 1908 Married: Died: June 21, 1946 Burial: Spouse: Name: Sarah Lucile Kersey Born: February OS, 1910

in: Pottawatomie County, Kansas

in:in: Chula Vista, California in: Glen Abbey Memorial Park, Bonita, California

7F

Died: Burial: Married: June 18, 1932 Spouse: William J. Strickland Name: Born: Died: Burial: Married: Spouse: Name: Born: Died: Burial: Married: Spouse: Married: Spouse: Lorena Ruth Kersey December 20, 1911

in: in:

8 F

in: Pottawatomie County in: in: Las Vegas, Nevada

October 19,1940 Newman Lane Hart Esther Elizabeth Kersey September 02, 1914 February 2, 1996

9

F

in: Westmoreland, Kansas in: Escondido, California in: Glen Abbey Memorial Park, Bonita, California in: in: Yuma, Arizona

Robert Bolton Jr. March 08, 1952 William F. McGrath

10 M

Name: Infimt Son Kersey Born: December 12, 1918 Married: Died: December 12, 1918 Burial: Spouse: Name: Born: Married: Died: Burial: Spouse: Name: Born: Married: Died: Burial: Spouse: Name: Born: Married: Died: Burial: Spouse: Name: Born: Married: Died: Burial: Spouse: Name: Born: Married: Died: Burial: Spouse:

in: Pottawatomie County, Kansas in: in: Pottawatomie County, Kansas

11

in: m: in: in:

12

in: in: in: in:

13

in: in: in: in:

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in: in: in: in:

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in: in: in: in:

Horace Albert Kersey was born July 21, 1870 in Pottowatomie County, Kansas. He was the third child born to Martha Mariah Teeter and Robert Butler Kersey. Robert B. had a brother named Horace who died at age 14, thus the name was handed down to "Bert" as he was always known throughout his life. Bert's father was thought to be a stone mason by trade but did mostly farming when raising the family. His father's health was never good after the experiences he had as a soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War. Bert's mother was a teacher and taught at various schools in the county, including Westmoreland, Ks. Bert's older brother, George, died at age twenty-five when Bert was age twenty-three and with their father not well this left Bert the oldest son with more responsibility. Bert had one older sister and two younger brothers and one younger sister. Bert and his brothers did farming at their own farm and often times worked for other farmers in the area. They were a close knit family and always looked out for the welfare of one another. Bert met Rebecca Jane Domeny at various school, church and county activities. They married on October 13, 1897. Rebecca Domeny and Bert Kersey were married October 13, 1897 in Pottowatomie County Kansas. They were married at Rebecca's parents home near the Broderick area. Their first home was on the Widow Burgess place which is north of Ghoerings. Martha Emza was born there in September, 1898 and Fleda La Vanche was born there in November, 1900. In the spring of 1901 Bert took his family and Becky's sister, Alzira " Allie" Domeny, age 19 or just turned 20 at that time, and they went to Newkirk, Oklahoma by covered wagon. Bert's uncle Albert had taken his family there years before where he died but his widow and Bert's cousins were still living. The Oklahoma Land Runs and Lotteries were from 1889--1893. We think that there was still unclaimed land and there was a chance for Bert to possibly homestead some land there and since Bert was always looking for ways to improve life for his family and we assume that is why they made the trip. Their son, Robert George, was born there in June of 1902. They returned by train to Pottowatomie Co. Kansas in the fall of 1903. After their return to Kansas, they lived with Becky and "Allie's" father, George W. Domeny and their stepmother Elma, in the Broderick neighborhood close to the Mc Proud farm. Becky and Bert soon moved their family to the Bain farm located between Grandpa Domeny's farm in Broderick and the County Poor House. This is where Clara was born in May of 1904. They later moved northwest of Wamego to the Schuler farm (near Ed Daylor's farm). They lived there for about seven years. It was here that Howard was born in January, 1906; Agnes in January, 1908; Sarah in February, 1910; and Ruth in December, 1911. It was during this time that several of the children attended school in District #82. This is where Clara started school and she still remembers her teacher whose name was Kate Kahler. This was short-lived for Clara though because they soon moved four miles north of St. George. Becky loved this place which had many fruit trees and since Becky was a wonderful cook and with a large family to cook three meals a day for, the fruit must have been a special treat for all. Now all of the children entered a new school and they lived there until Bert was elected Sheriff for the first time in 1912. Bert was elected Sheriffand they moved to Westmoreland in December, 1912. Bert held office from 1913 to 1916. Their first house was the Hick House where Esther was born in September, 1914. It was during these years that they moved often as Bert did a lot of buying and selling of houses. He probably was known to do a little horse trading in his younger days. Some of the houses that they lived in (some rented and some owned) were the Cochrun stone house, Huckstadt house, Cree house, Plummer house (the Campbell house then) and Bob Arnold house. During 1917 and 1918 they moved to a farm just south of Louisville where they lived when Ruth started to school. Their last child was born while they lived there but the child did not live and is buried in the family plot in Wamego, The marker reads "Baby Kersey". Bert was elected Sheriff again for 1919 and 1920. Emza had graduated from high school in Westmoreland in the year 1916 and started teaching

school soon thereafter. Fleda was allowed to remain in Louisville to live with her grandmother, Martha Kersey, and her aunt Jesse Kersey Ferguson, so she could graduate from high school there, while the family moved once again back to Westmoreland for Sheriff duty. Bert opened a Ford Automobile Agency around the year 1921 in Westmoreland. This business included automobiles and trucks as well as tractors. His son Robert was one of the mechanics along with Ralph Hockett and his salesman was Bob Springstead. Bert was a member of the local and state draft board and was successfully involved in many county and state official functions which made him well known and respected. It was from the encouragement of these many friends and acquaintances that he decided to run for the office of Kansas State Representative. In 1924, Bert was elected to the Kansas State Legislature from the 41st district where he served one term from 1925 to 1927. I believe it was at one of the first official State functions that Becky and Bert were attending, on January 12, 1925, in Topeka when the garage burned down. Clara and Agnes were getting breakfast that morning when they heard the fire bell ringing. When they looked out the window and saw the smoke, Clara thought it looked like the garage was on fire. Clara was the bookkeeper for her dad so she tore out of the house still in her slippers and no coat but she arrived in time to save the books from the fire. Ernza called her folks at their hotel to tell them and Bert's first response was " Was anyone hurt?". Fortunately no one was but there was very little to salvage. They did move what tools and other things that they could to a new temporary location. Bert did not like the pressure put upon him by the Ford Co. about the amount of merchandise he must buy in order to do business with them so he chose to discontinue his relationship with the Ford Company. Bert eventually moved his garage to a permanent location on main street where there had been a garage owned by the Zables ( this is the garage that Wayne Grutzmacher, Ernza's husband owned later). It was here that Bert made a deal with the Hudson-Essex company and he took on that dealership, however the business was never too lucrative as the Essex auto never gained popularity. The family had an Essex, as the family car when they moved to Rossville in 1927. Bert owned a garage in Rossville and they stayed there a year. Bert had been promised that if AI Smith were to win the election for President in November of 1928 that he would be given a good job working for the Government. AI Smith, who was of the Catholic religion was defeated badly by Herbert Hoover and this of course dashed any dreams that Bert may have had to further himself in politics. The family moved back to Westmoreland in late 1928, living first in a big two story house down by the creek, close to the crossing that the Grutzmacher's often used to get to town. This house had been occupied at one time by Mrs. Kate Hooven and her children. This was a temporary stop for the Kersey's, while waiting to move into the house (Cree's) that they had bought from Clara and Fritz. Before too long though Bert and his brother Ross, who's family was farming in Onaga made the decision to take their families and move to California. Ruth, a graduate from Westmoreland High School and just seventeen, soon to be eighteen, was teaching in Rossville and really hated to see her family leave. Sarah who was working at the courthouse for Mrs. Hooven, decided to stay with her sister Clara and her husband Fritz. The older children, Ernza, Fleda, Bob, Clara, and Howard also remained in Kansas. Bert and Rebecca in their Essex, along with daughters Agnes and Esther left for California in October of 1929. Ross and Bessie (Hutchison) Kersey had four children; Argell, Jessie, Willard and Ruby Elizabeth. Argell had remained in Kansas and when Ruth and Sarah were free to go they all drove in Argell's Chevrolet (the girls each agreed to pay him twenty dollars for the trip) to join their parents in Coronado, California. The Kersey brothers, Bert and Ross found employment in various fields in the beginning. The girls started work in San Diego. In those days the only access to Coronado was by ferry or a long drive around the south bay on the silver-strand and through Imperial Beach, Otay, Chula Vista and National City in order to get to San Diego. The girls worked at The Retail Credit Association and commuted by ferry each day. I think it cost a Dickie each way. Eventually the girls moved out on their own to live in San Diego. In 1934 or 1935 Bert and Rebecca moved to Chula Vista to be near many long time friends who had migrated

to that small town from Pottawatomie County, Kansas. The Buffington's, (Joe and Oda) the Laughlin's (Ted and Mary) and the Perry's (Lillian and George) and many more fellow Kansans were in the area. This led to many "Oldtimers Picnics", card games and gatherings for reminiscing about the "Good Old Days". Bert became interested in real estate and went to work in the Daisey Bigelow Real Estate office. He was always a "people person" so he proved to be a great help to Mrs. Bigelow. Her office was on the main street and close to home so this was ideal for Bert and he delighted in this endeavor. When his eyesight began to fail him he could no longer drive his automobile, however he still went to the office most everyday. In 1932 Howard and his wife Opal moved to California and eventually settled in Chula Vista. In 1937 Ernza, with her husband Wayne and family, joined the clan in Chula Vista. They all remained there where they raised their families and contributed much to the growing community. Bert died in Chula Vista in 1947 and Rebecca joined him in death in 1955. They are interred, along with Ernza, Howard, Agnes and Esther, in Glen Abbey Memorial Park. Their children Fleda and Robert who remained loyal to their native Kansas are buried in the Kersey family plot in Wamego, Kansas. Daughters Clara, Sarah and Ruth remain living in California at the time of this writing. This information was compiled in January, 2000 and comes from various people beginning with a conversation between Ruby St. John Kersey and Sarah Domeny Owens, in Wamego Kansas in 1981. This conversation was mainly about the early years of the marriage of Rebecca and Bert Kersey. Sarah was a younger sister to Rebecca Jane Domeny Kersey and was born in Laclede, Kansas. Sarah was born October 7, 1890 and died November 2, 1984 at age 97 in Wamego, Kansas where she is buried. Bob Grutzmacher the oldest grandchild of Rebecca and Bert Kersey has many fond memories of his grandparents during their years (1920's) in Kansas as well as their later years in Chula Vista. The daughters of Rebecca and Bert Kersey, Clara Fritzler and Ruth Hart, also helped Rebecca Jumper, their niece in compiling this information and telling about their years of growing up in the family.

Rose Lodge#122 LO.O.F.

Odd Fellow Lodge buildinf

Louisville, Kansas

was the Kersey family church

Congregational Church

This is the Odd Fellows Lodge building in Louisville Kansas

Wedding Pictures -- October 13, 1897

Horace Albert Kersey

Rebecca Jane Domeny

1918 Family Gathering: Louisville, Kansas

Back Row: Bert Kersey, Glen Head, Ann Breymeyer, Bessie Kersey Frank Ferquson (blurred), Ms. Baird, Clara Kersey, Vera Brock Emza Kersey, Fleda Kersey, Wayne Grutzmacher, Argell Kersey Ross Kersey, Flave Brock, Ralph KerseyThird Row: Iantha Ferguson, Clara Brock, Florence Kers~y. M;uth~M Kersey

Rebecca Kersey, Nellie Ferguson, Jessie Ferguson, Ethel Ferguson, Henry Ferguson, LloydSecond Row. HC:tL~1ergu8on,Doris Ferguson, Wayne rergu30n, Willard Kersey F

Ruth Kersey, Sarah Kersey, Jessie Kersey, Agnes Kersey Front Row: Esther Kersey, Pauline & Paul Kersey (twins), Cecil Ferguson, George Fergusonn, Floyd Ferguson, Howard Kersey

July 1910 The Kersey Children Picture was taken at Aunt Jessie Kersey Ferguson's

R -- L: Martha Emza, Fleda LeVanche, Robert George, Clara Rebecca, Horace Howard, Agnes Bernice and Sarah Lucille. With Lorena Ruth born in 1911 andEsther Elizabeth born in 1914.

This picture is copied from an old Post Card that the childrens mother, Rebecca Jane Domeny Kersey hadwritten to Mrs. Minnie Domeny, wife of her brother John.

The

Bert Kersey

Fami Iy --- 1916

Ctildren Left to Right

Fleda, Robert, Emza, Clara, Howard, Agnes, Sarah, Ruth and Esther Bert (with srroke in his face) and Rebecca standirlg behind the young ones.

One of the homes where the Bert Kersey family lived

The youngest child who did not live was born here

May 24,1998

This child was never named as far as his sisters know.It always bothered me that his stone had no name or dates on it. Once when visiting Aunt Clara she was having some engraving done on Uncle Fritz's stone so I at the same time paid the man to inscribe the year 1918 on the baby stone. , I was disappointed that it does not show up more clearly however if you look closely you can see the date at the bottom.

i.

E

Horace Albert "Bert" Kersey ------ Pottawatomie County, Kansas

1944The Bert and Rebecca Domeny Kersey family

Back row L-R: Agnes, Esther, Clara, Emza, Sarah, Fleda and Ruth Front row L.-R: Bob, Rebecca, Bert and Howard

I have heard the story that Grandma was upset because Grandpa and the kids were joking around so when the picture was finally snapped they were all trying to be more serious.

This information written by: Ruby St.John Kersey

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Ruby's writing continued

By: Ruby St.John Kersey

Bert Kersey: Work background

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