John Edward Beyl | Edna Mae Applegate
Documented History
Viola Mildred‘s father was John Edward Beyl. John was born in Columbus, Indiana on 15 February 1887, per his Death Certificate. His parents were Jacob Beyl and Mary E. Kern. I was also able to confirm his birthdate on several historical documents including the Federal Census records, the Indiana Select Marriages Index, the U.S. Social Security Death Index, and the U.S., World War I Draft Registration Card.
1887 Birth Record
While his first name wasn’t provided, and the last name was spelled wrong, I did find a reference to his birth in the Bartholomew County, Indiana, Birth Records Index, 1882-1920 when I was reviewing the record for the birth of Mildred. It is incredibly frustrating, as a researcher, to find how inaccurate many of these “official” records are; no wonder there are so many unsolved mysteries.
1900 Census-1
At the time of the 1900 Federal Census, John lived with his parents and siblings at 228 Jackson, Columbus Township, Bartholomew County, Indiana. John was 13 years old. His parents were Jacob and Margaret E Beyl. Jacob was 53 years old at the time, born December 1846. He and his parents were born in France.
1900 Census-2
Jacob immigrated to the United States from France in 1852, and had been in the United States for 42 years at the time of the Census. He was naturalized. He was a carpenter renting the house at the time.
Jacob’s wife, Margaret E, was 44 years old, born in November 1855 in Indiana. Her parents were born in Germany. Margaret had birthed 7 children, 5 of which were still alive at the time of the Census.
1900 Census-3
John’s older brother, Jacob W. Beyl was 24 years old, born May 1876 and was also a Carpenter. Their sister Mary E. was 20 years old, born August 1879. John was at school when the Census was taken along with his little sister and brother. Lillie F was 10 years old, born January 1890. Thomas was 7 years old, born July 1892. Jacob and Margaret’s grand-daughter, Hellen M. Bond, also lived with them and was 11 months old at the time, born June 1899.
1910 Census
In 1910, John still lived with his parents, Jacob and Margaret, as well as his older brother Jacob W. and younger brother Grover T. Beyl. John was referred to as Edward on the Census record from this point forward.
1910 Census-2
At this time, they rented a house at 542 Jackson, Columbus Township, Bartholomew County, Indiana. Jacob Sr. was 63 years old and was no longer working. His wife of 38 years at the time, Margaret, was 53 years old and previously worked at a Poultry House but had been out of work for 22 weeks.
1910 Census-3
Jacob W. and John Edward were 33 and 23 years old, respectively. They were both laborers at a Liquor Factory. But John Edward had been out of work for 20 weeks. Grover T. was 17 years old and worked as a Furniture Laborer.
Wedding Day – Copyright: anna42f / 123RF Stock Photo
John Edward married Edna Mae Applegate on 24 August 1911 in Marion County, Indiana, according to Indiana, Marriage Index, 1800-1941 and Indiana, Select Marriages Index, 1748-1993. John was 24 years old at the time.
1913 & 1914 Birth
John and Edna had a baby girl on 3 January 1913 and another on 17 February 1914, according to Bartholomew County, Indiana, Birth Records Index, 1882-1920. They named their first born Margaret L. and their second daughter Viola Mildred.
U.S., World War I Draft Registration Card
On 5 June 1917, John Edward registered for the World War I Draft. He lived at 540 Jackson, Columbus, Indiana at the time. He worked as a Wood Assembler at Emerson-Brantingham Company in Columbus, Indiana. He had a wife and three children at the time and he claimed exemption from the draft in order to support them. He was described as tall and slender with dark brown hair and blue eyes.
1920 United States Federal Census-2
At the time of the 1920 Federal Census, John had moved to 848 Prospect Street, Center Township, Marion County, Indiana. He was 31 years old and worked as a Bakery Foreman. French was his native language. He lived with his wife, Edna, 25 years old. Their children were Margaret M., 6 years old; Mildred, 5 years old; and Charles, 3 years and 8 months old.
1929 Birth of Mary Lou
John and Edna had another baby girl on 24 March 1929 at Indiana Christian Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. They named her Mary Lou Beyl. At the time, John was 43 and Edna was 33 years old and they lived at 1329 Southeast Avenue. John was a Foreman and Edna was a housewife. Mary Lou was born at 7:33pm.
1930 United States Federal Census Record
In 1930, per the Census Record, John Edward lived with his wife Edna, and their children Margaret, Mildred, Charles, and Mary Lou at 1329 East Street, Center Township, Marion County, Indiana. John was 43, Edna was 35, Margaret was 17, Mildred was 16, Charles was 13, and Mary Lou was 1 year old. John was a Dispenser at a Bakery Company. Margaret was a Saleslady at a Dry Goods Retail Store.
1931 U.S. City Directories 1822-1995
In 1931, Edward and Edna lived at 329 S. Baet Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, according to the U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995. He was a Warehouseman at the time. His baby brother, Grover T., lived at 208 E. Kelly with Katherine.
1933 U.S. City Directories 1822-1995
In 1933, John and Edna lived at 221 Naomi, Indianapolis, Indiana, according to the Indianapolis, Indiana, City Directory, 1933. John was a Baker at the time. Margaret and Mildred lived with them. His baby brother, Grover T., lived at 208 E. Kelly with Katherine.
1940 United States Federal Census Record
At the time of the 1940 Federal Census, John and Edna lived at 1020 S. New Jersey Street, Center Township, Marion County, Indiana with their children Charles, Mary Lou, and Frederick. John Edward was 53 years old, Edna was 45, Charles was 23, Mary Lou was 11, and Frederick was 5 years old. John Edward was a Laborer in the Flood Prevention Industry. He made $453. Charles made $200 at school at NYA.
U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942
John registered for the WWII Draft when he was 55 years old. He still lived at 1020 S. New Jersey Street at the time and listed Charles Beyl as a person that would always know his address. He listed WFA as his Employer’s Name. The Employer’s Address was 19 W. South Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. Interesting that he wrote the wrong date for his birthday on this record.
Lot Interment Order
Edna Mae passed away and was buried at Garland Brook Cemetery in Lot Number 519, Section Number 15 on 11 March 1949. The Lot Interment Order lists her death on 8 March 1949. She was 53 years old. She rests next to her husband, John Edward Beyl. Findagrave lists her birthdate as December 1894. It lists her spouse as John Edward Beyl (1887-1966) and lists her children as Frederick E. Beyl (1934-2013).
1966 Medical Certificate of Death
John Edward Beyl passed away due to Septicemia on 30 September 1966, according to Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011. He was 79 years old at the time of his death and had been an Elevator Operator at U.S. Rubber Company. Frederick E. Beyl was the informant and lived at 3425 Georgetown Road, Indianapolis, Indiana. No autopsy was performed.
1966 Grave
John was buried at Garland Brook Cemetery in Columbus, Indiana on 4 October 1966 next to his wife. Check out his memorial at Find A Grave.
That’s all for now, I’ll check back regularly and update this page as I find additional information.
I’ll leave you with a common Genealogy phrase:
When we die we become ‘stories’ in the minds of other people.
Happy story finding!
~Kris
JEB Family Tree
