Thelma Straw

   Cause of her death was gunshot wound to chest.

   Another name for Thelma was Harriette Mae Straw.

  General Notes:

Iowa birth records:
Name: Thelma Straw Birth Date: 26 Jun 1907 Birth Place: Washington Tp, Taylor, Iowa Father's Name: Anson Straw Mother's name: Bessie Straw FHL Film Number: 1035143

1910 Sand Creek, Union County, Iowa - STRAW surname misspelled Samuel E. STRAM 1859 Emeline 1869 Annie 1891 William 1892 Olive 1894 Benjamin 1896 Ira 1898 Ida 1900 Harriette 1907 Ina 1902 Mary 1904 Jesse 1906 Ethel 1908 Also living there is Anson "STRAM" born 1874 Vermont- Samuel's brother [Harriette is listed as a daughter of Samuel but is actually his niece as she and her father Anson are living with Anson's brother Samuel]

May have married Unknown Goodwin - B Potter on Rootsweb Message Board on 7 April 2001 .."we would like to know if you are sure his name is edward anson straw. we have been told something different. do you have any info on a haddie goodwin. she was supposed to be the daughter of anson and bessie."

see mother's notes

1920 Allen, Warren county, Iowa
Harriet Straw b. 1908 IA is living with her father and stepmother Katherine Gartell (Straw) Straw.[ Harriette is actually Thelma with her name changed] Harriet/Thelma's mother Bessie has remarried [1911]

O'Dell's Abstracted Newspaper Index of Page and Taylor Counties, Iowa
BTR - Bedford Times-Press, 310 Main Street, Bedford, Iowa 50833
Newspaper clipping dated 28 Aug 1923 that states: " Mrs. August Eiler of "Roak" [Red Oak]thought daughter Thelma Straw was dead; reunited after 14 years on 28 Aug 1923" [this would mean she had not seen Thelma since 1909 which is when she divorced Thelma's father. Straw in the 1910 census is living with his brother Samuel and says he is single; neither of his daughters are with him]

www.familysearch.com
TX death records
Name Thelma Straw Wright Death date 04 Nov 1956 Death place El Paso, El Paso, Texas Gender Female Race or color (on document) White; Age at death 42 years 4 months 7 days; Birth date 27 Jun 1914 Birth place Iowa Marital status Unknown Father name Harry E. Straw Mother name Bessie M Occupation Waitress, Cardon Drive-In Residence El Paso, El Paso, Texas Cemetery name Evergreen Burial place El Paso, Texas Burial date 13 Nov 1956
informant Wesley C. Mandell


Letter written to Mr.W.C. Mandell of El Passo, Texas from Mrs K. O. Straw dated 6 Nov 1956 Davenport, Iowa
"Dear Sirs
I don't just know how to rite(sic) this but will try. Just got your phone call in regard to our Daughters Death. was quite a shock to us But we have not seen or heard from her for about 20 years, her Father says to tell you to Burie (sic) her Down There for it is impossible for us to take care of her here as he has been Sick for 8 or 10 years in bed Most of the time age 83 we give you the Power of Atorney (sic) to Burrie (sic) her Down There, it is impossible for us to have This Letter Notorized as I can't get to town as I cant Leave My Husband alone.
Will have to send this out by a neighbor.
Hope this will help you in your trouble.
Thank you for your kindness.
Sincerely Mrs K. O. Straw Davenport, IA [street address and phone included]
Father James E. Straw
Mother Bessie M. Eiler
Harrette Mae Straw was Borned (sic) June 26 1907 at Gravity, Iowa
was given her the Name of Thelma by her Mother at the age of 2
We are giving you The Power of Attorony [?] to to Burrier(sic) her There
as it is impossible for us to handle it here.
Sorry to hear of her Death.
Could you please send me a clipping from a Paper
in regard to her Death.
Thank you,
Mrs K.O. Straw, Davenport, Iowa"

  Research Notes:

she had SS # 461-42-5396 and found that 461-42-5397 was issued in El Paso, TX..could Thelma have been living in El Paso when she signed up for Social Security, Back then Social Security numbers were designated by [461] area number...Texas?; [42] group number [5396] Serial number
Also found a Clayton L. Wright living in El Paso 1954-1957...no wife listed....
also found a Thelma Wright living in El Paso, TX 1928-1934 [at least....appeared to be living alone]

  Medical Notes:

Invetigation pending re: suicide or homocide

Thelma married Darwin Casad Mandell Sr., son of William Nicholas Mandell and Maude Casad, circa 1937. (Darwin Casad Mandell Sr. was born on 24 Dec 1900 in New Mexico, died on 4 Nov 1956 in El Paso, El Paso county, Texas and was buried in Masonic Cemetery in Las Cruces, New Mexico.). The cause of his death was gun shot wound.

  Marriage Notes:

This may not be an accurate date. In the 1940 census Thelma is listed as "wife" but according to documentation she was not legally divorced from Wright until 1955. It is also possible that Thelma and Darwin never legally married although at the time of their death they are refered to as "husband and wife"

Thelma next married Living