: Corman – that Kentucky girl

[ARTIFACTS] Obituary keepsakes from January 1963

My great grandmother’s obituary produced as keepsakes by the local newspaper. It has been interesting to live as witness to the demise of the print journalism industry.

In Memoriam

HERALD-LEADER

Lexington, Ky. January 8 1963

Mrs. Martha B. Corman

Mrs. Martha Bradshaw Corman, 81, the widow of Suber* Corman, died at 7 p.m. Sunday at St. Elizabeth Hospital, South Fort Mitchell.

She was a native of Lexington. Mrs. Corman lived at 6 Floral Avenue in South Fort Mitchell and was a member of the Madison Avenue Christian Church there.

She is survived by five daughters, Mrs. Fanny Dean Mathews, Nicholasville; Miss Viola Corman and Miss Madeline Corman, both of South Fort Mitchell; Mrs. William Englett, Victorville, Calif., and Mrs. Joseph Neal, Kansas City, Mo; two sisters, Miss Susie Ghant, Nicholasville, and Mrs. Minnie Scanlon, Prineville, Ore; 12 grandchildren, and 21 great grandchildren.

The body was taken to the Allison and Rose Funeral Home in Covington.

It will arrive here at noon Wednesday and will be taken to Kerr Brothers Funeral Home where services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Burial will be in the Lexington Cemetery.

One of two examples of obituary keepsakes laminated and serve as bookmarks.

A TRIBUTE

published in the pages of

THE LEXINGTON LEADER

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY

JAN 7 1963

Memorial Obituary

Mrs. Martha B. Corman

Mrs. Martha Bradshaw Corman, 81, widow of Suber* Corman, died at 7 p.m. Sunday at St. Elizabeth Hospital in South Forth Mitchell.

A native of Lexington, Mrs. Corman had lived at 6 Floral Avenue in South Fort Mitchell and was a member of the Madison Avenue Christian Church there.

Survivors are five daughters, Mrs. Fanny Dean Mathews, Nicholasville; Miss Viola Corman and Miss Madeline Corman, both of South Fort Mitchell; Mrs. William Englett, Victorville, Calif., and Mrs. Joseph Neal, Kansas City, Mo., two sisters, Miss Susie Ghant, Nicholasville, and Mrs. Minnie Scanlon, Prinville, Ore.; 12 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.

The body was taken to the Allison and Rose Funeral Home in Covington. It will arrive here at noon on Wednesday and be taken to Kerr Brothers Funeral Home where services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Burial will be in the Lexington Cemetery.

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[ARTIFACT] 1906 Deed: Corman, Henry H. to James M. Lowry, Jessamine Co, KY

The transcription below is my attempt to decipher the handwriting and legal jargon of the late 1800s. You will notice question marks and placeholder text that informs my research. Additionally the FAN (friends, acquaintances, neighbors) approach yields rich opportunities with the names of Stifers, Rhorer, Welch, Campbell, etc.

The deed is the third in a series of entries pertaining to a certain tract of land in Jessamine County that passed in 1873 from Francis Grow and Amanda J. Grow, his wife, to my 2nd-great-grandfather, Henry Harden Corman and Sophia Smith Dean, his wife. Henry and Sophia had one child, Surber Harden Corman, my great grandfather (see image below).

Surber Harden Corman (1867-1948) (father), Martha Jane Bradshaw Corman (1881-1963) (mother) and, I have tentatively concluded, Fanny Dean Corman (1901-1976), Surber and Martha’s first child.

Surber was the only child of Henry (1835-1909) and Sophia (1836-1910) and presumably heir to his parents’ estate. They sold the property (in part or in total) in 1906 to James M. Laury.

Mortgage

Corman, Henry H

To

Lowry, James M.

Acknowledged before me by

Henry H. Corman and

Sophie Corman his wife

March 8 1906

N. A. Dierarson J. C. C. ?

By James M. Lowry

Recorded in Mortgage Book 19

Page 174

The Jessamine Journal Print, Nicholasville, KY.

? ? paid (2 b) ?

This Indenture, made and entered into this 8th day of March 1906 between Henry H. Corman and Sophie Corman his wife of the County of Jessamine State of Kentucky parties of the first part and James M. Lowry of the County and State aforesaid County of the second part

Witnesseth, that the parties of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar to _____? In hand paid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and the further consideration hereinafter mentioned, do hereby sell, grant, and convey to the part of the second part, his heirs and assigns, the following described real estate, to-wit: all that tract of land except 10 acres more or less which was some time ago deeded to John P. Lowry record of which is in the office of the Clerk of the Jessamine County (branch?) lying and being in Jessamine County Kentucky on the waters of Jessamine Creek and formerly known as the (Tozier?) Mill property and (bordering) the lands of R. (Daversbooth?) Stifers, Rhorer, Lowry and the lands of (?) Welch and (something -ing) 40 acres more or less and being a portion of the same tract of land (conveyed) to Henry H. Corman by Rev P. Campbell and wife by deed of record in the Office of the Clerk of the Jessamine County Clerk in Deed Book No. 16 Page (638)

To have and to hold the same, with all the rights, privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in anywise appertaining unto the second party, his his heirs and assigns forever, with covenants of General Warranty.

Nevertheless, it is understood between the parties thereto that this instrument is to operate as a Mortgage to secure the second party in the payment of a note of (even) date hereof for Two hundred dollars (?) and payable twelve months after date and bearing interest at the rate of seven per each (?) from date until paid – executed by Henry H. Corman and payable to James M. Lowry.

This Mortgage is intended to secure (…) or extrusions of the whole or any part of the above described note

Now, should said first parties well and truly pay off and discharge said note interest when the same becomes due and payable, then this Mortgage and all other writings as may exist as evidence of said debt shall become null and void, otherwise it shall remain in full force and effect and said grantor hereby especially waive and release all rights or claim they have or may have hereafter have, which arises out of or is given by the Exemption and Homestead Laws of Kentucky in and to the property hereby conveyed; also all right to dower in said property is included in and made part of this Mortgage and these covenants and conveyances are especially made part of this Mortgage.

Witness our hands the day and year first above written.

Henry H. Corman

Sophie Corman

State of Kentucky,

County of Jessamine

I, N. R. Dickerson, Clerk of the County Court of the County aforesaid, do certify that the foregoing instrument of writing from Henry H Corman & Sophie Corman his wife

To James M. Loury

Was on the 8th day of March 1906 produced to me

In my office, and was acknowledged by Henry H. Corman and Sophie Corman his wife parties thereto

To be their act and deed, and was this day lodged for record by the grantee, which, together with this certificate, is duly recorded in my said office.

Given under my hand, this 26th day of March 1906

N. R. Dickerson C.J.C.C.

By James M. Loury (S.C.?)
Jessamine County Deed, Book 19, Page 714

[MILITARY] Easley and Corman in War of 1812

Two ancestors I’ve discovered received pensions for service during the War of 1812 – Pleasant Easley and George A. Corman, Sr. Both served in the Fifth Kentucky Regiment under Lt. Col. William Lewis.

Pleasant Easley served as a private in Captain James C. Price’s Company. Known as the “Jessamine Blues” this unit of Jessamine County militia were so called by their remarkable uniforms. They experienced losses at the Battle of River Raisin. I definitely have this on my next level research topics.

Private Easley served August 15-October 1812. Six months after his discharge, Pleasant married Patience Dean Holeman. I am still working on the birth and death dates for this family. Some of these findings do not yet make sense despite being based on research, and therefore may be incorrect. For now, I am going with Pleasant and Patience as likely my 4th-great grandparents.

Then, we have my 3rd-great grandparents George A. Corman, Sr. (1793-1866) and Abigail Hicks (1796-1880). Of their information, I am much more certain.

Pennsylvania-born, Jessamine Co Kentucky volunteer George Corman (or Cornman) served as a 19yo private in Captain Hamilton’s Co of Kentucky Militia, August 15, 1812-February 15, 1813. Corman was recorded as a Prisoner-of-War (POW) on January 22, 1813. A reference to Palladium on March 24, 1813 needs follow-up. Six months after discharge, George married Abigail in Fayette Co, KY, on August 5, 1813. George died and was buried with others in family, Corman Cemetery, Bethel Pike, Nicholasville, KY.

Both Kentucky militia soldiers, Pleasant and George volunteered. Both married six months after military service. Both settled in Jessamine Co.

Resource: Jessamine Historical Quarterly, Vol.2, No. 1, January 2003, published by Jessamine County Historical & Genealogical Society (www.jesshistorical.com)

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A 6th-generation Kentuckian on a journey to find out – follow along

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Thank you for your response. ✨

PHOTOS: Corman and Bogie (Jessamine County, KY)

Here’s what I learned: These photos are all related and appear to be around the 1920s-1930s. Firstly, my grandmother Fanny Dean is in each one and she is approximately the same age in each. Also, three different members of the Bogie family are featured.

A quick check in ancestry.com & Google search located Betty Dean Bogie, mother of Rella, who lived in Nicholasville, KY the same time as my grandmother and who is buried in Maple Grove cemetery, as are many of my family members, including my grandmother.

My 28yo grandmother was a school teacher early in her career when in November 1930, she married a 36yo widower with a 5yo son. I do not know how they met or reconnected when she returned to Jessamine County from Missouri. Historically, rural one-room schoolhouses served concurrently varying ages of students from the adjacent communities. In those years teaching, Fanny Dean would board with families in a particular area where she taught. This period aligns with the timeline of her life as I understand it. Maybe she resided with the Bogie family during one of those stints. That is one theory.

Another is that Fanny “Dean” and Betty “Dean” may have been relations of some kind. Whether family or patrons, this family was significant to my grandmother. I did not find any references to Hughie in Fanny Dean’s writings but he is also the child of Betty according to some quick ancestry.com searching for connections.

*Rella Bogie with Fanny Dean Corman (Jessamine County, KY)*

*Fanny Dean Corman with Mrs. Betty Bogie (Jessamine County, KY)*

*Fanny Dean Corman with Hughie Bogie (Jessamine County, KY)*

December 30, 2022

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A 6th-generation Kentuckian on a journey to find out – follow along

PHOTO: The Dauntless Four

*Ira Malcolm Corman, 2nd from right, my granduncle, died 1930 of typhoid fever at 26yo*.

On reverse, the inscription reads:

This is the “Dauntless Four” as all the students call us. We all occupy the same room in the dorm. Reading from left to right we are as follows: Silas Mullen, Otis Marshall, Ira M. Corman and George E. Wilson.
Circa early 1920s. Likely Manhattan, Kansas where Ira attended Bible college.

December 30, 2022

that.Kentucky.girl

A 6th-generation Kentuckian on a journey to find out – follow along

HEADSTONE: CORMAN, Eliza Murphy 1872-1896

*Headstone for Eliza Jane Murphy Corman, located at Corman Cemetery, Bethel Pike.*

ELIZA

WIFE OF

SURBER CORMAN

BORN

APRIL 2 1872

DIED

JULY 16 1896

This is a sad kind of realization. If this woman, Eliza Jane Murphy Corman, had not died prematurely, tragically – I would not be here (at least not as I am in this form). In being a mother and protecting the life of her child, she died. She sacrificed by instinct is my guess.

Eliza Jane Murphy was born 1872 in Pleasant Hill, Mercer County, KY. She was 16yo when she married 21yo Surber Corman in Wilmore, KY, January 1889. Their first child, Minnie Pearl, was born March 31, 1890, followed by Roy Sidney in January 1893.

*Surber Harden Corman with first wife Eliza Jane Murphy*

The story goes that 3yo Roy fell into Jessamine Creek, that ran across their family farm, and in attempting to retrieve him, Eliza – who was pregnant with their third child – fell in but saved Roy. She died in July 1896, as did the unborn child, from complications caused by the accident. After only 7 years of marriage, Surber was a widower at 28yo with two young children.

At 34yo, Surber married his second wife, 20yo Martha Jane Bradshaw, in 1901. These were my great-grandparents.

December 27, 2022

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PHOTOS+ephemera – Corman, Ira Malcolm and Vesta Jane McCord

*Rev. Ira Malcolm Corman, BORN 26-Feb-1904, Wilmore, KY, DIED 30-Jul-1930*
*Vesta Jane McCord, BORN 22-Nov-1902, Bartholomew, IN, DIED 5-Apr-1995*
*my granduncle and grandaunt*

Ira (22yo) married Vesta Jane (23yo) on Wednesday, July 28, 1926, in her hometown in Bartholomew County, IN. He attended seminary at Manhattan Bible College (present-day Manhattan Christian College) which opened in 1927 as Christian Workers University in Kansas. How did they meet? Still working on that detail.

Wedding Day, July 28, 1926 “Ira and Vesta Jane”

They were married only four years when Ira died July 30, 1930, of typhoid fever while living and preaching in Erlanger, KY. Typhoid fever rates had declined since the advent of drinking water purification efforts and is caused most commonly by exposure to Salmonella bacteria (see Johns Hopkins references) At the time, there was less than a 20% chance (20 in 100K) incidence of typhoid fever, according to The CDC, so somewhat rare. They had no children. They had only just celebrated their 4-year wedding anniversary two days before his death. Maybe he was already sick and they could not celebrate.

As recorded in the 1950 US Census just released this year, Vesta J. Corman was a 47 year old widow, “lodger” who “teaches grade school” living in Fort Thomas, Campbell Co, KY. The handwritten letters of the census taker appears to be on “Alex Pine” with “River View” street on one side and “So. Fort Thomas Ave” on the other side. I will map this eventually.

Although Vesta Jane remarried following Ira’s untimely death, they are buried together in Section 50, Garland Brook Cemetery, Columbus, Barthlolomew County, Indiana.

Interestingly, Vesta Jane’s second husband Howard Long was the widower of Ira’s eldest step-sibling, Minnie Pearl Corman Long. Minnie Pearl, a nurse, died at 58 years old on Dec. 28, 1948, due to a stroke.

In the 1940 Census, Howard Long, his wife Minnie, their adopted son Alan and Howard’s mother Elizabeth (Vandiver) Long lived at 220 Forest Park Road in Lexington, Fayette Co, KY. Eight years later, Minnie died.

The 1950 Census places Howard Stanley Long still living at Forest Park Road. He is 56 years old, widowed and working for the water company in the occupations of “Reading and Repairing Water lines” with an income of $3,730. Living in the residence are 14 year old son Alan B. Long, 87 year old mother Elizabeth P. Long, and Stella J. Hamilton, the 60 year old nurse who’s occupation is listed as “Nursing and companion.” Presumably, this was for the senior Mrs. Long.

Sometime between 1950 and Howard’s death in 1959, Vesta and Howard married. Vesta Jane lived another 36 years as a widow again and joined the cadre of Corman women who lived to their ripe old ages caring for others and for each other. They were my role models, these women in community.

It’s That Kentucky Girl

that.Kentucky.girl

A 6th-generation Kentuckian on a journey to find out – follow along

Christmas, Royal Manor

Royal Manor, Nicholasville, KY

For several years in the late 1990s, two of my great-aunts – Aunt Vi and Aunt Hazel – resided at Royal Manor nursing home. It was designed as two long hallways like a letter “U” connected by central gathering, community spaces.

Down one corridor, my maternal grandmother’s elder sister had a room with a roommate, if I remember correctly. Hazel’s mind was strong and clear, her spirit mostly unsettled and her physical constraints dictated reliance on other people, whether in kindness and compassion or not. She knew what was up and was definitely not okay with it all.

Conversely, my paternal grandmother’s younger sister had a room to herself on the opposite Royal Manor corridor. She remained a sweet, pleasant spirit but drifted in and out of lucidity. We had deep conversations about far-distant memories. She could not tell me what or whether she had eaten that day. She did get manicures, apparently.

Here we are seated together on her bed. You can see the hospital nature of the bedframe along with the accent of “homelike” touches in a handmade afghan. Another contrast.

She was child-like as she worked to remove the gift wrap while emanating that giddy, expectant energy.

I remember one visit we sat side by side in rockers on the front porch and admired the sunset together. She talked of her home and that when she returned there someday soon, I should come visit. She would offer me things that she wanted to gift to me. She did not know that her home was packed away in a storage unit nearby and she would never be “going home” again.

Every so often, her body would shudder all over and she’d let out a moan, close her eyes for a moment. I do not know what her diagnosis was. Her pain was fleeting and repetitive, but I am not certain she remembered one to the next, really.

Viola died February 2000 and Hazel died in December 2000 that same year when I was living in New Jersey.

PHOTO: The Corman Carers

You might say educating is in my blood and these women were paramount in my own formation. Educators, living their Christian service and love instilled by the Shaker-educated youth of Martha Jane Bradshaw Corman, mother, and three of her daughters – Madeline, Viola & Fanny Dean. Two of the sisters taught school at the elementary and middle grades in northern Kentucky while the other, my grandmother, taught in one-room school houses throughout the Bluegrass region of Kentucky, specifically Jessamine County, with names like Sweet Home and Oak Hill.

Fully enjoying summers traveling, they invited the grandchildren-age generation of cousins on their annual summer trips across all these United States. The ORIGINAL aunt camp (*credit: S. C. Mathews – I see you Pebby). And, the original Ya-Ya’s, as we say in our family.

Photo: (left to right) Iva Madeline Corman, Martha Jane Bradshaw Corman, Viola Josephine Corman, and Fanny Dean Corman Mathews, my grandmother.

I remember visiting Frankenmuth, Michigan, as well as author and artist Gwen Frostic’s studio/visitor center in Benzonia. I have a beautiful collection of her work gifted to me, purchased by me and bequeathed to me through the estates’ transitions. It is on that trip with Aunt Vi & Aunt Madeline that I began with Christmas tree ornaments collecting as mementos from my travels.

It feels as though caring is woven in my DNA and was nurtured along by simply spending time with my great-aunts. My grandmother passed when I was in 4th grade living in Pittsburgh, PA, and my memories with her are fuzzy. When I look around my home, I pause to appreciate the things from my family, much of which ties back to them. Any artifact’s value perhaps felt priceless only to me, ultimately. It is the STORIES I crave and these hand-me-downs bring the memories and my soul to rejoice. I want to protect and preserve.

Maybe my heart’s call as service to others honors my ancestors, lives out in legacy. I can confirm I am a lifelong learner – and, most often the hard way. But, if it comes from the heart, is it ever wrong? Let me tell you, if you keep with these ancestry storylines I’m putting down – along the way, your heart will ache. Fair warning.

But, let’s first take a moment to reflect with some levity. Where my educators AT?!

Check out this excerpt from my WKU folk studies professor William Lynwood Montell’s 2011 publication, Tales from Kentucky One-Room School Teachers:

In 1872, the Kentucky State Legislature formally mandated its nine “Rules for Teachers”:

Teachers each day will fill lamps, trim the wicks and clean chimneys.
Each morning teacher will bring a bucket of water and a scuttle of coal for the day’s session.
Make your pens carefully. You may whittle nibs to the individual taste of the pupils.
Men teachers may take one evening each week for courting purposes, or two evenings a week if they attend church regularly.
After ten hours in school, the teachers may spend the remaining time reading the Bible or any other good books.
Women teachers who marry or engage in unseemly conduct will be dismissed.
Every teacher should lay aside from each pay a goodly sum of his earnings for his benefit during his declining years so that he will not become a burden on society.
Any teacher who smokes, uses liquor in any form, frequents pool or public halls, or gets shaved in a barber shop will give good cause to suspect his worth, intention, integrity and honesty.
The teacher who performs his labor faithfully and without fault for five years will be given an increase of twenty-five cents per week for his pay, providing the Board of Education approves.

Okay, with so much to unpack here, is it even possible? Take a moment. Read it again. Read it aloud to someone. I wonder how much of this was still codified when my grandmother was a one-room school house teacher almost 50 years later.

December 17, 2022

Ever learning, ever loving

that.Kentucky.girl

OBITUARY, 1930: CORMAN, Reverend Ira Malcolm dies of typhoid fever, age 26

my grand uncle
born February 26, 1904, Wilmore, KY, died July 30, 1930, Kenton Co, KY. Buried Garland Brook Cemetery, Columbus, Bartholomew Co, IN, Sec. 50.

OBITUARY: YOUNG PASTOR VICTIM OF FEVER

Rev. Ira M. Corman, Erlanger, Dies in Covington Hospital

POPULAR WITH PEOPLE

Body Will Be Sent to Indiana Following Church Rites.

The Rev. Ira M. Corman

Funeral services for the Rev. Ira M. Corman, 26, pastor of Graves Avenue Church of Christ, Erlanger, Ky., who died Wednesday afternoon at Booth Memorial Hospital, Covington, were held Thursday afternoon at the church. The clergyman’s death was due to typhoid fever.

The Rev. William E. Sweeney, pastor of Broadway Christian Church, Lexington, assisted by the Rev. S. S. Lappin and Dr. Fred J. Gielow, conducted the services. The body was sent to Columbus, Ind., for interment.

The Rev. Mr. Corman had been in charge of the Erlanger church for six months and was popular with his congregation. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Vesta Corman.

The Rev. Mr. Corman was a student at Manhattan, Kan., and at the Cincinnati Bible Seminary, and preached for churches at Greenleaf and Morrowville, Kan., while a student at Manhattan. He had conducted six evangelical meetings.
Family library artifact, unknown publication name