I found two articles about Joseph Seymour's death. and included information about Blanche Seymour remarrying.
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Joseph, my great grandfather, was the sixth child and the fourth son of Charles and Charlotte Seymour. He was born in September 6, 1891.
Joseph appears on his birth certificate as Joseph Semar.
Joseph Married Blanche Provost on November 14 1910. He was 19 years old, and she was 21.
Blanche was born in Quebec, and had immigrated to the US two or three years before she was married.
Their first child, Arline, was born on December 22, 1910.
When Joseph registered for the draft for WWI, he had three daughters and a son.
His draft card:
The first page shows that he works for Chicago North Western railroad as a common laborer, and that he asks for exemption from the draft to support his wife and children. The second page says that he is of medium height and medium build with brown eyes and hair.
The 1920 census record:
He is listed as a laborer.
In 1923, a Joseph Seymour was caught running moonshine and was sentenced to 4 months in jail. There was more than one Joseph Seymour in the area, and I need to determine which one was the one who was arrested.
The 1930 census record:
The columns after name are: relationship to head of house, rent or own home, value of home, does the family own a radio, does the family live on a farm, gender, color, age, married or single, age at marriage, is the person attending school, and can the person read and write.
Here you have all of Joseph's children and one grand child. I had to research, but the child, Maurice, is Arline's. Sadly, Maurice died a few months later at almost 4 months old. I will have to order his death certificate to find the cause.
Joseph Seymour died in 1935 at the age of 44. He left behind a wife with at least 5 kids still living at home. Edward, the oldest of the 5, would have been about 18 at the time and old enough to work.
Joseph's death was suspicious, so the contents of his stomach were sent to a state lab for analysis. There was no evidence found of foul play.
For some reason, two headstones were made for Joseph. One is in the Sacred Heart Cemetery where he is buried. The other was used as a step at his grandson's (my Dad's) childhood home. It was discovered when the non-engraved side that was being used for a step became too cupped and the homeowners went to turn the stone over. My Dad visited the house around 2004 and the homeowners let him have the stone.
Blanche, Joseph's widow remarried Fred Perra, a widower, on March 30, 1939 in Escanaba, Michigan
1940 Census:
Joseph died during the Great Depression that followed WWI that spanned from 1929-1939. I have been told that his sons worked on the depression era public works projects.
The census asked if anyone in the household during the week of March 24–30, 1940, was at work on, or assigned to, public emergency work projects conducted by the WPA, the NYA, the CCC, or state or local work relief agencies. The WPA, established May 6, 1935, developed programs to move unemployed workers from relief to jobs. The WPA workers, among other things, rebuilt the national infrastructure, wrote guides to the 48 states, worked in the arts and theater, and assisted with disaster relief. The NYA, established under the WPA, gave part-time jobs to high school and college students to earn money to continue their education. The CCC, created March 31, 1933, employed men aged 18–25 in conservation work in the national parks and forests.
These are the questions for the columns in the image above:
For Persons 14 Years Old and Over – Employment Status:
21. Was this person at work for pay or profit in private or nonemergency Govt. work during the week of March 24-30? (Y or N)
22. If not, was he at work on, or assigned to, public Emergency Work (WPA, NYA, CCC, etc.) during the week of March 24-30? (Y or N)
If neither:
23. Was this person seeking work? (Y or N)
24. If not seeking work, did he have a job, business, etc.? (Y or N)
For Persons Answering "No" to questions 21-24:
25. Indicate whether engaged in home housework (H), unable to work (U), or other (O).
If "Yes" in Column 21:
26. Number of hours worked during week of March 24-30, 1940
If "Yes" in Column 22 or 23:
27. Duration of unemployment up to March 30, 1940 – in weeks
Occupation, Industry, and Class of Worker:
28. Occupation
29. Industry
30. Class of worker
31. Number of weeks worked in 1939 (equivalent full-time weeks)
Income in 1939 (12 months ending Dec. 31, 1939):
32. Amount of money, wages, or salary received
33. Did this person receive income of $50 or more from sources other than money wages or salary (Y or N)
Column 22 indicates that Henry and Hubert were doing public work. Roy was old enough to work, but was in school. Theresa wasn't old enough to work yet. Column 32 shows how much money they made in the previous year. With inflation, Fred made $30,500, Edward made $16,200, Henry made $8,900, and Hubert made $540.
The United States was brought into WWII when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941.
Three of Joseph's four sons were drafted and served in WWII.
Edward was with the 40th Engineers C Regiment. I have read that this group was attached to the 45th Thunderbird division. The Thunderbirds invaded Sicily, Italy and I think once again in Europe. Edward knew French and served as a translator, and was involved in the liberation of Dachau. He had taken pictures at Dachau, but they are missing and I think they have been destroyed.
Hubert was in the 133 Engineers Company E. I don't think he ever went overseas.
Roy was supposed to be involved with command of one group as a clerk. He was involved in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium and spent time in the United Kingdom.
Henry did not serve due to poor eyesight.
All three of the brothers came home from the war. I don't know what the odds were of that happening, but I have a feeling that the family was very lucky.
Blanche died in 1974, and Fred Perra died in 1969. Both are buried in Schaffer, Michigan's Sacred Heart Cemetery.
Joseph and Blanche's Tree:
I haven't included Theresa's spouses or birth date because she is still living.
This is great..thank you for doing the research. - Dan Seymour
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