Please meet my Aunt Patty. She was born as Pearl May at home in a nearby rural township in October of 1896 to my great-grandparents Daniel and Wretha. She was the middle child; my grandfather Louis was born in 1894 and her baby sister Elizabeth (Betty) was born in 1903.
The fun part of my family is that everyone uses the same names over and over. Pearl May's cousin, who lived on the same road was born in August of 1896 and was named Pearl (same last name) too. About five Daniels (her dad's name) were living in that township at the time, all named after their grandfather Daniel.
By 1900 Pearl, her mom and dad and brother were renting a house in town on the same street as my husband and my first apartment. Daniel is listed as a delivery man. By 1910 the family had moved to another rental house closer to Main St. Daniel is listed as a laborer at odd jobs, Mom Wreatha is listed as a laundress at her home and my 16 year old grandfather is listed as an office boy. My grandfather was supporting the family at this point and Miss Pearl had perfect attendance in the eighth grade and made the honor roll with a 93.2 in 1910 (I can access local newspapers on line). Later that summer she visited friends in a nearby town.
As a high school senior in April, 1914, Pearl and a classmate competed in the Northwest District of our state's High School Oratorical Contest with a vocal duet of "In the Dust of the Twilight". The Medicine Show, which was in town for a week in June of 1914, had a contest for most popular girl. Pearl placed second. Later in June, Pearl (with her middle name spelled Mae) graduated from our local high school and had a part in the "commencement" play as a maid in waiting. Pearl went on to take a two year Normal course at Miami University in Kent, Ohio. She came home to spend Christmas and Easter with her family.
In September of 1915 Pearl returned to her studies at Miami University. Again she returned home for a week at Christmas. There is no mention of her graduation, but in July of 1916, our local school board hired Pearl for a position at the same grade school my children attended, as a fifth grade teacher. In October she was a speaker at the Methodist Church anniversary presenting a paper "The Harvest of the Years". She was a member of the Sunshine Class at the church and was hostess for their meetings.
In 1917 Miss Pearl directed a large musical show at the elementary school carnival showcasing the students. She spent Easter week visiting friend at Miami University. And in May 1917, "Scarf dancing, patriotic drills and singing comprised a program by fifth grade girls in green and white dresses at our local theater. The result showed careful training by Miss Pearl. She continued hosting the Sunshine Class at her family's home. At the end of the school year she prepared high school students for a program of folk and interpretative dances. Pearl was rehired as a teacher for the 1917-1918 school year at a yearly salary of $550.
In December of 1917 her cousin, the other Pearl Mae O'Dell got married which made my genealogy search of MY aunt much easier. My Pearl spent the holidays with friends in Indiana. In May of 1918 the school thanked Pearl for her help with dances for the Patriotic Decoration Day Celebration. In December 1918 Pearl was on the list of persons ill with the influenza. She recovered to help with a school production with 250 students in May of 1919 and was given a bouquet of pink roses. Her yearly salary for the 1919-1920 school year was $870. Pearl and another teacher started a dance class for high school girls in December.
I thought I wouldn't be searching about which article was about which Pearl O'Dell after the marriage of her cousin, but oh no. Another Pearl, living in New York state and aged 18, married an O'Dell and they decided to horribly murder her ex-boyfriend. Now to sort through out the articles of the accused murderers who were quite the topic in all the papers, including my local paper.
In the 1920 census they are renting on another street near Main Street and it says Daniel is a house painter, Wreatha is at home, My grandfather is a jeweler and Pearl is a teacher. Betty is still a student.
In May 1920, Pearl was the hit of the Eastern Star entertainment as a featured dancer and bit player in the show. Later in May she helped direct a high school performance. In June Pearl advertised aesthetic dancing classes. She and friends danced at the Eastern Star banquet in later in June. Her September salary would have increased by $106.25, but Pearl resigned from her teaching position on July 21, 1920 and accepted a job as a physical training teacher in the junior high school in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It looks like a year later she is living in Cleveland, Ohio. Pearl returned to town to "spend a week with her parents" in 1922. By July 1924 it seems like she is living with her parents.
In June of 1926, ANOTHER Pearl O'Dell in our county pops up. She is 18 years old and there is a marriage announcement. Also in June 1926 my great grandmother (Pearl's mother) and my grandmother (her sister in-law) traveled to Seattle Washington to visit MY Pearl. She changed her name when she went out west and was now going by Patricia Ann, but not in our local papers. Aunt Patty was married in King County, State of Washington in June 1927. I do not believe any family was present as they did not serve as witnesses.
In August 1933 Aunt Patty and her husband were visiting in the area, "the first time Pearl, a former teacher, has returned in ten years." She is mentioned as visiting again in 1936 and 1937 and 1938. They would have traveled by train from the state of Washington to the state of Ohio.
Aunt Patty died in 1961 at age 64 in the state of Washington. Her obituary states she was recently teaching classes until her illness.
Aunt Patty never had children and I like to take the responsibility that she is remembered.
Here is another photo I found when researching some dates for this article. I believe it is her first year at university.
