multiple marriages – Someone Peed In My Gene Pool!

August 10, 2025

Introducing George Thomas Applegate

Introduction Page – George Thomas Applegate

Every family has those steady, familiar presences — the kind of people who anchor a family’s story without demanding the spotlight. For our family, George Thomas Applegate was one of them.

Born in Crothersville, Indiana, in 1899, George grew up in a time when the pace of life was measured in work shifts, neighborhood news, and the changing seasons. His life carried him through early factory work, decades at Allison, and the shifting rhythms of a city that was always growing around him.

George was no stranger to life’s twists — from stepfathers to wartime draft registrations, from divorce to late-in-life marriages — yet he met each chapter with a kind of quiet perseverance. He remained rooted in Indianapolis, building a life that blended hard work, community, and family ties.

If you knew George — whether you worked alongside him, saw him at church, or shared a seat at his kitchen table — we’d love for you to add your stories here. It’s these personal memories that bring his history to life far better than census records and draft cards ever could.

📝 Share Your Memories
Use the comment box below to tell us about George — his laugh, his habits, the advice he gave, the things that made him uniquely himself. Your stories will help keep his memory alive for future generations.

Want the full story?
Visit George Thomas Applegate’s Family Page to explore his complete life timeline, from his Crothersville childhood to his final years in Indianapolis.

August 9, 2025

Introducing John William Applegate

8 May 1891 – 14 October 1977

John William Applegate

The Man of Many Chapters | Survivor of War and Work | Keeper of Quiet Roads

Some lives are drawn in straight lines — John’s was a patchwork quilt of moves, marriages, and reinventions. Born in Crothersville, Indiana, in the spring of 1891, he grew up in a household where the door was always swinging for siblings, extended family, and visitors.

By the time the First World War arrived, John had already endured a serious hand injury but still stepped forward to serve. After his discharge, his life unfolded in restless chapters: from Indiana streets to Ohio hotels, from sales counters to bakery offices, and eventually, the Arizona desert. His five marriages marked turning points, each carrying him into a new role, a new address, a new attempt at permanence.

He was a man who kept moving — not because he lacked roots, but because he carried them with him.

Want the full story?
Head over to John William Applegate’s Family Page for a detailed, milestone-based history of his life, complete with records, photographs, and research notes.

Tell Us What You Know

The documents tell us where John lived and when he married, but they don’t tell us how he laughed, what stories he told at the dinner table, or whether he liked the desert sunsets in Arizona more than Indiana’s summer evenings.

If you knew John — or if he was part of your family’s stories — please share your memories, photographs, or anecdotes in the comments below. Every detail helps stitch together the man behind the records.

July 28, 2025

Introducing Irvin Benjamin Smith

🕵️‍♂️ Introduction Page: Irvin Benjamin Smith

Born: 15 March 1885, Lawrence, Indiana
Died: 26 January 1947, Indianapolis, Indiana
Known Aliases: Irvin B. Smith, Ervin B. Smith, Tom Smith
Occupations: Drayman, Laborer, Welder, Mechanic, Truck Driver
Possible Marriages: Edna Dugan, Lulu Sanders, Helen Marie Blake, Alsa Mae (unconfirmed)
Children: Mabel Irene Smith, Monty (unconfirmed)

Who Was Irvin Really?

Irvin Benjamin Smith is one of those ancestors who refuses to sit still—even in the grave. His trail winds through multiple marriages, shifting occupations, two World Wars, and census entries that contradict each other just enough to keep you guessing.

We’ve traced his known path as far as we can, but his story still has soft spots—years unaccounted for, possible spouses unexplained, and a son named Monty who may or may not be his. Throw in varying middle initials for his father and the occasional alias (“Tom”), and you’ve got the makings of a real mystery man.

That’s where you come in.

📣 Share Your Stories, Clues & Theories

Did you know Irvin personally—or hear stories passed down through the family?
Do you have photos, letters, or mementos tied to Irvin or his wives?
Can you help clarify whether he really married Lulu Sanders, Alsa Mae, or someone else entirely?
Any leads on what became of Monty?

We welcome memories, documents, DNA matches, wild theories, and respectful speculation. Drop your insights in the comments below or contact me directly. Even the smallest detail might help connect the dots.

📜 Want the full story?
Head over to Irvin Benjamin Smith’s Family Page for a detailed timeline of his life—including census records, marriages, mysteries, and everything we’ve uncovered so far.

Let’s shine a little more light on Irvin’s shadowy corners.

With curiosity and care,
~Kris