Clara Velnett Straw

  General Notes:

1880: German, Smith, Kansas
Name: Clara B. STRAW Age: 4 Estimated birth year: <1876> Birthplace: Kansas Relation: Other Marital status: Single Race: White Gender: Female Head of household: O. H. STRAW Father's birthplace: IL Mother's birthplace: OH

On IGI files she is called Clara Valnett Straw

Per e-mail of Althea Kriz whose husband descends from this line Sept 2004:
O H Straw --according to his pension papers, which I have, he states he was born in Springfield Illinois in 1839
wife- Sarah Larkin born 1839 in Ohio
children-
**Charles F b:1860 in Iowa (married Mabel Kronkright)
Ninney? b: 1862 in Ohio (married George Anderson)
Mary Rosette b: 1864 Iowa (married George Parkins)
John William b: 1868 Missouri (married Maggie Hayes)
Anna V b: 1872 Missouri (married Elmer Wilder)
Clara B (married Merton Francis)
James H b: 1876 Kansas. James died young

for consideration:
In 1900 there is a Clara Austin, w/o Lee Austin living in Custer, MT [as is Clara's brother Charles with her mother Sarah in his HH] This Clara Austin was born Feb 1876 in Kansas; married 9 yrs and has one son Wilbur born Feb 1895 (age 5) whom I can't locate in 1910 when Clara is married to Merton and claims she had one child but does not say it is living.
Also in 1880 both Lee Austin and Merton Francis were living in Harrison County, Iowa.

1910 Sabra School District, Rosebud County, Montana
Merton H Francis age 40; second marriage; married 2 yrs; father born WI; mother born England
Clara F. age 34 ; second marriage; married 2 yrs; born KS; one child [if living it is not indicated]
Sarah E. STRAW age 71; MIL; widow; born OH; 7 children with 6 living

1920 Sabra School District, Rosebud County, Montana
Merton Francis age 49 NE
Clara age 44 KS

1930 Sabra School District, Rosebud County, Montana
Merton Francis age 49 NE; age at first marriage 25
Clara V. H. Francis age 44 KS; age at first marriage 18

March 1938 - listed as survivor in brother John William Straw's obit

Find A Grave Memorial 79653948

Clara married Merton Henry Francis, son of Samuel William Francis and Jennie Havercroft, circa 1908 in Forsyth, Rosebud County, Montana, United States of America. (Merton Henry Francis was born on 12 Apr 1870 in Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska, died on 20 Oct 1954 in Forsyth, Rosebud County, Montana, United States of America and was buried in Forsyth Cemetery - Rosebud County, Montana.)

Clara next married Leroy Scott Austin, son of Asa Austin and Orpha Evalina Merritt, on 9 Apr 1894 in Miles City, Custer County, Montana. (Leroy Scott Austin was born in Apr 1872 in Almont, New York.)