Determining the Parents of Clarence Everett Wisdom, of St. James, Missouri

By Aaron Spohr

DATE: 12 December 2020

REPORT FOR: [Name Redacted]

BACKGROUND SUMMARY:

Clarence Everett Wisdom was born between 1912 and 1914 and died in 1977 in St. James, Phelps County, Missouri.[1] He was married to Mary Ellen Roark and among their children [names redacted].[2] Client stated that his family knows very little about the origins of Clarence.

OBJECTIVE:

Who were the parents of Clarence Everett Wisdom, born between 1912 and 1914 and died in 1977 in St. James, Phelps County, Missouri?

REPOSITORIES:

Ancestry.com
FamilySearch.org
Missouri Digital Heritage
Missouri Bureau of Vital Records
Missouri Digital Newspaper Project – The State Historical Society of Missouri
James Memorial Library, St. James, Missouri
Phelps County Courthouse, Rolla, Missouri

NOTES:

  • All websites were accessed on 6 December 2020.
  • A search for names in this report under various spellings produced no results in Missouri Digital Heritage Project.. The only area newspaper currently in this online database is the Rolla Daily News, which was unlikely to provide many hits for St. James, and the small communities in the southern part of the county.
  • The James Memorial Library was closed to the public and so the obituary was graciously provided by a librarian, [Name Redacted].
  • References to attachments are mostly found in the “Detailed Research Notes” section.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS:

CLARENCE EVERETT WISDOM

Clarence Everett Wisdom was born in DeCamp, Phelps County, Missouri on 10 April 1912 to John Wesley and Ella (Payne) Wisdom.[3] He died on 12 July 1977, and was buried at Adams Cemetery, south of St. James, Missouri.[4] See Table 1 for a summary of documents about Clarence Everett Wisdom.

Table 1 – Records showing birth for Clarence Everett Wisdom

Record

[Record date]

Name Age Birthdate Birthplace Residence

Birth a

[15 Oct. 1943]

Clarence Everett Wisdom 10 April 1912 DeCamp, Phelps Co., MO Meramec Twp., Phelps Co., MO

1920 Census b

[27 Jan. 1920]

Clarence E. Wisdom 7 [1912-13] MO Union Twp., Crawford Co., MO

1930 Census c

[6 Apr. 1930]

Clarence Wisdom 17 [1912-13] MO Pacific City, Franklin Co., MO

WWII Draft d

[16 Oct. 1940]

Clarence Everett Wisdom 28 10 April 1912 Phelps Co., MO St. James, Phelps Co., MO

Headstone e

[Unknown]

Clarence E. Wisdom 10 April 1912 Not recorded Not recorded
Obituary f Clarence Everett Wisdom 65 10 April 1912 DeCamp, Phelps Co., MO Not recorded

a. State of Missouri, Delayed or Special Certificate of Birth, Cert. no. 144577 (1943), Clarence Everett Wisdom; Bureau of Vital Records, Jefferson City, Missouri. Certified copy of original in author’s files.

b. 1920 U.S. Census, Crawford Co., Missouri population schedule, Union, ED 13, sheet 11A, dwelling 223, family 227, Wesley Wisdom household, digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/ ) > Missouri > Crawford > Union > District 0013; citing NARA microfilm T625, Roll 905.

c. 1930 U.S. Census, Franklin Co., Missouri population schedule, Pacific City, ED 36-4, sheet 3B, dwelling 64, family 64, Homer Wisdom household, digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/) > Missouri > Franklin > Pacific > District 0004; citing NARA microfilm T626, Roll 1187.

d. “U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947,” database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2238/) > Missouri > Whipple-Zytowski > Winfrey, James-Witcosky, Paul > images 3627 and 3628 of 5350, card for Clarence Everett Wisdom, Phelps Co., Missouri; citing Draft Registration Cards for Missouri, 10/16/1940 – 03/31/1947, NAI: 7644737, Selective Service System, Missouri State Headquarters, 1942-1947, NARA, St. Louis, Missouri.

e. Adams Cemetery (Phelps County, Missouri, off of Highway F, between Highways 72 and 68), headstone of Clarence E. and Mary E. Wisdom, photographed by author on 16 November 2020. Photo in author’s files.

f. “Clarence E. Wisdom,” obituary, St. James Leader Journal, 20 July 1977, p.14A, col. 6; microfilm image provided by James Memorial Public Library, St. James, Missouri, with no identifying microfilm identification.

JOHN WESLEY WISDOM

John Wesley Wisdom was likely born in Missouri in March of years reported between 1881 and 1890. See Table 2 for comparison and citations.

Table 2 – Records showing birth for John Wesley Wisdom

Record

[Record date]

Name Age Birthdate Birthplace Residence

1900 Census a

[12 Jun. 1900]

Welsley [sic] Wisdom 15 Mar. 1885 Missouri Pierce Twp., Texas Co., MO

Marriage App.b

[12 Jan. 1909]

John Wesley Wisdom 23 [1885-86] Not recorded DeCamp, Phelps Co., MO

1910 Census c

[30 Apr 1910]

John W. Wisdom 25 [1884-85] Missouri Meramec Twp., Phelps Co., MO
WW1 Draft d [12 Sep. 1918] John Wesly [sic] Wisdom 37 29 Mar. 1881 Not recorded Vilean, Phelps Co., MO

1920 Census e

[27 Jan. 1920]

Wesley Wisdom 35 [1884-85] Missouri Union Twp., Crawford Co., MO

1930 Census f

[7 Apr. 1930]

John W. Wisdom 40 [1889-90] Missouri St. James, Phelps Co., MO

Death Cert g

[4 Dec. 1969]

John Wesley Wisdom 86 3 Mar. 1883 Missouri St. James, Phelps Co., MO

Headstone h

[Unknown]

John Wesley Wisdom 3 Mar. 1883 Not recorded Not recorded

a. 1900 U.S. Census, Texas Co., Missouri population schedule, Pierce, ED 143, sheet 6B, dwelling 108, family 109, John Wisdom household, digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/) > Missouri > Texas > Pierce > District 0143; citing NARA microfilm T623, Roll 906.

b. “Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991,” Database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2060668) > Phelps > Marriage Applications 1907-1910 > images 620 and 621 of 1161, application for John Wesley Wisdom and Cloia Ellen Payne, 1909; citing Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City.

c. 1910 U.S. Census, Phelps Co., Missouri population schedule, Meramec, ED 66, sheet 7B, dwelling 137, family 137, John W. Wisdom household, digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/)  > Missouri > Phelps > Meramec > District 0066; citing NARA microfilm T624, Roll 797.

d. “United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1968530) > Missouri > Phelps County A-Z > image 2853 of 2947, card for John Wesley Wisdom, Phelps Co., Missouri; citing NARA microfilm M1509.

e. 1920 U.S. Census, Crawford Co., Missouri population schedule, Union, ED 13, sheet 11A, dwelling 223, family 227, Wesley Wisdom household, digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/) > Missouri > Crawford > Union > District 0013; citing NARA microfilm T625, Roll 905.

f. 1930 U.S. Census, Phelps Co., Missouri population schedule, St. James, ED 81-13, sheet 3B, dwelling 58, family 60, John W. Wisdom household, digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/) > Missouri > Phelps > Saint James > District 0013; citing NARA microfilm T626, Roll 1216.

g. State of Missouri, Death Certificate, cert. no. 28490, John Wesley Wisdom (1969); “Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1969,” database with images, Missouri Digital Heritage. (https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1969/1969_00046922.PDF), State File No. 69 0046922, Phelps Co.

h. Adams Cemetery (Phelps County, Missouri, off of Highway F, between Highways 72 and 68), headstone of Ella Wisdom and John Wesley Wisdom, photographed by author on 16 November 2020. Photo in author’s files.

An act in Missouri, signed 6 May 1909, required counties to provide birth and death records to the state.[5] Earlier state legislation, in 1883, had requested the same information, but it was not mandated, nor extensively followed, and so it was later repealed in 1893.[6] A search of Pre-1910 birth records on this same website provided no relevant results.[7] There is probably no way to resolve the discrepancy over John Wesley Wisdom’s birth date/year. The signatures in Table 3 are very similar and show that he was probably the informant for both pieces of information. His fiancée in the marriage record was listed as 18 years old and so he may have been motivated to exaggerate his youth of 23 years. However, in the draft record he may have been motivated to exaggerate his age in the other direction to reduce the chance of being drafted for the war. It seems likely that he was born during the month of March sometime in the 1880s, however he noted that his birthdate was the 29th of the month, while his death certificate showed the 3rd of the month. The informant in the death certificate was his son, Clarence, who could have had no knowledge of his father’s actual birth. Though, neither would John Wesley have had knowledge of his own birth. It is unknown which date the family would have celebrated by tradition, if at all.

He died in Rolla, Missouri on 4 December 1969 and was buried next to his wife, Chloe Ella, in the Adams Cemetery.[8]

Table 3 – Comparison of John Wesley Wisdom’s Signatures
“Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991,” Database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2060668) > Phelps > Marriage Applications 1907-1910 > images 620 and 621 of 1161, application for John Wesley Wisdom and Cloia Ellen Payne, 1909; citing Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. The signature shows that John Wesley Wisdom was probably the informant. He listed his age as 23 years which would put his birthyear as 1885-1886.
“United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1968530) > Missouri > Phelps County A-Z > image 2853 of 2947, card for John Wesley Wisdom, Phelps Co., Missouri; citing NARA microfilm M1509. The signature shows that John Wesley Wisdom was probably the informant. He listed his birthdate as 29 March 1881.

CHLOE ELLA PAYNE

Chloe Ella Payne was probably born on 8 November 1889 in Missouri.[9] A search of Missouri birth certificates produced no matches.[10] See Table 4 for information detailing her birth. She was listed as a resident of Winkler in her 1909 marriage application with John Wesley Wisdom.[11] Winkler was just a few miles southeast of DeCamp; both locations were in Meramec Township. See Attachment 12 for a map of the area and its citation.

Table 4 – Records showing birth for Cloe Ellen Payne
Record Name Age Birthdate Birthplace Residence

1900 Census a

[20 Jun. 1900]

Chloe E. Pane 10 Nov. 1889 MO Meramec Twp., Phelps Co., MO
Marriage Appb [12 Jan. 1909] Cloia [sic] Ella Payne 18 [1890-91] Not recorded Winkler, Phelps Co., MO

1910 Census c

[30 Apr 1910]

Ella Wisdom 20 [1889-90] MO Meramec Twp., Phelps Co., MO

1920 Census d

[7 Jun. 1920]

Ella Wisdon [sic] 30 [1889-90] MO Farmington, St. Francois  Co., MO

Death record e

[20 Oct. 1922]

Ella Wisdom 33 [1888-89] Not recorded Farmington, St. Francois Co., MO

Headstone f

[Unknown]

Ella Wisdom 33 8 Nov. 1889 Not recorded Not recorded

a. 1900 U.S. Census, Phelps Co., Missouri population schedule, Meramec, ED 105, sheet 9B, dwelling 157 [7 overwritten by 6], family 158 [8 overwritten by 7] , Robert L. Payne household, digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/) > Missouri > Phelps > Meramec > District 0105; citing NARA microfilm T623, Roll 881.

b. “Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991,” Database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2060668) > Phelps > Marriage Applications 1907-1910 > images 620 and 621 of 1161, application for John Wesley Wisdom and Cloia Ellen Payne, 1909; citing Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Indexed incorrectly as Joseph Wesley Wisdom.

c. 1910 U.S. Census, Phelps Co., Missouri population schedule, Meramec, ED 66, sheet 7B, dwelling 137, family 137, John W. Wisdom household, digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/)  > Missouri > Phelps > Meramec > District 0066; citing NARA microfilm T624, Roll 797.

d. 1920 U.S. Census, St. Francois Co., Missouri population schedule, Farmington, ED 103, sheet 8A, State Hospital No. 4, Ella Wisdom, Patient, digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/) > Missouri > St. Francois > Farmington > District 0103; citing NARA microfilm T625, Roll 945.

e. State of Missouri, Death Certificate, cert. no. 294459, Ella Wisdom (1922); “Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1969,” database with images, Missouri Digital Heritage (https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/ 1922/1922_00031465.PDF), File No. 29459, St. Francois Co.

f. Adams Cemetery (Phelps County, Missouri, off of Highway F, between Highways 72 and 68), headstone of Ella Wisdom and John Wesley Wisdom, photographed by author on 16 November 2020. Photo in author’s files.

Chloe Ella had four known children based on the 1920 enumeration for her family.[12] Clarence’s obituary confirmed the names.[13] See Table 5 for the names and birth dates of the children.

Table 5 – Names/births of children a
Name Birth Date
Homer Archie Wisdom 1909-10
Clarence Everett Wisdom 10 April 1912
Elsie P. Wisdom 1914-15
Emil Wisdom 1917-1918
a. 1920 U.S. Census, Crawford Co., Missouri population schedule, Union, ED 13, sheet 11A, dwelling 223, family 227, Wesley Wisdom household, digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/) > Missouri > Crawford > Union > District 0013; citing NARA microfilm T625, Roll 905.

On 15 April 1919, Chloe Ella was committed by three judges in the Phelps County Court to become a patient and resident at State Hospital #4 in Farmington, Missouri.[14] She died there, of Pulmonary Tuberculosis, on 18 October 1922, and had been diagnosed with Dementia Praecox.[15] She is buried at the Adams Cemetery next to her husband, John Wesley Wisdom.[16]

DETAILED RESEARCH NOTES:

VITAL RECORDS

Missouri Birth Certificate for Clarence Wisdom (1943)

Citation: State of Missouri, Delayed or Special Certificate of Birth, Cert. no. 144577 (1943), Clarence Everett Wisdom, certified copy of original in author’s files; Bureau of Vital Records, Jefferson City, Missouri. [See Attachment #1]

Extract:

Certificate No.: 144577
Name: Clarence Everett Wisdom
Date of Birth: 10 April 1912
Race: White
Gender: Male
Birthplace: DeCamp, Phelps County, Missouri
Father’s Name/birthplace: John Wesley Wisdom, Missouri
Mother’s Name/birthplace: Ella Payne, Missouri
Affidavit provider: Clarence E. Wisdom
Address of provider: St. James, Missouri
Date subscribed: 10-9-43
Supporting Document 1: American National Ins. Co., Galveston, Tex. #14-230-464, dated 12-21-42
Supporting Document 2: Child’s birth cert. #19697-F, born 9-28-27
Supporting Document 3: Aff. sgd. John Wesley Wisdom, father, St. James, MO., dated 10-9-43
Date filed: 15 Oct. 1943

Analysis: This was a delayed birth record created 21 years after his birth, possibly for entering military service during WWII. A birth certificate created by a doctor or midwife present at the time of birth would be a more reliable record, but this is still direct evidence showing the names of Clarence’s parents because one of the informants was the father himself who likely would have been present or nearby.

Missouri Death Certificate for John Wesley Wisdom (1969)

Citation: State of Missouri, Death Certificate, cert. no. 28490, John Wesley Wisdom (1969); “Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1969,” database with images, Missouri Digital Heritage (https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1969/1969_00046922.PDF), State File No. 69 0046922, Phelps Co. [See Attachment #2]

Extract:

Name: John Wesley Wisdom
Gender: Male
Death Date/Location: 4 Dec. 1969, Rolla, Phelps Co., Missouri
Race: White
Age: 86
Birth Date/Location: 3 Mar. 1883, Missouri
Marital Status: Widowed
Social Security Number: None
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: St. James, Phelps Co., Missouri
Father’s Name: John Wisdom
Mother’s Name: Deliha Mash
Informant: Clarence E. Wisdom
Cause of death: Congestive Heart Failure
Name of Cemetery: Adams Cemetery
Date of Burial: 6 Dec. 1969

Analysis:

The date of birth and death was the same as entered on his headstone.[17] The name of his mother here correlates to her presence in the 1920 household of her son, Wesley Wisdom, and in the 1900 household of her husband, John Wisdom. Though the informant was his son, Clarence could have had no first-hand knowledge of his father’s birth. The birthdate is one of several variations found. The burial location, Adams Cemetery, is located next to where DeCamp once stood.[18]

Missouri Death Certificate for Ella Wisdom (1922)

Citation: State of Missouri, Death Certificate, cert. no. 294459, Ella Wisdom (1922); “Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1969,” database with images, Missouri Digital Heritage (https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/ 1922/1922_00031465.PDF), File No. 29459, St. Francois Co. [See Attachment #3]

Extract:

Name: Ella Wisdom
Gender: Female
Death Date/Location: 18 October 1922, Farmington, St. Francois Co., Missouri
Length of residence: 3 years, 6 months, 2 days
Race: White
Age: 33
Birth Date/Location: Not recorded/not recorded
Marital Status: Married
Spouse’s Name: Not recorded
Occupation: Housewife
Residence: DeCamp, Missouri
Father’s Name: C.T. Pane
Father’s birthplace: Not recorded
Mother’s Name: Not recorded
Mother’s birthplace: Not recorded
Informant: V.L. McCord, Farmington, Missouri
Cause of death: Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Contributory cause: Dementia Precox
Place of burial: Rolla, Missouri
Date of Burial: 22 October 1922

Analysis: Ella died, age 33, while a patient at State Hospital #4 in Farmington. Dementia Praecox was listed as the contributory cause of death, and that was the second most common diagnosis, after Maniac Depressive, for patients at that hospital in 1920.[19] Dementia Praecox was an archaic term for the illness later known as Schizophrenia.[20]

Missouri Application for License to Marry John Wesley Wisdom and Cloia Ellen Payne (1909)

Citation: “Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991,” Database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2060668) > Phelps > Marriage Applications 1907-1910 > images 620 and 621 of 1161, application for John Wesley Wisdom and Cloia Ellen Payne, 1909; citing Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Indexed incorrectly as Joseph Wesley Wisdom. [See Attachment #4]

Extract:

Name of Male: John Wesley Wisdom
Residence: DeCamp, Phelps, Missouri, United States
Age: 23
Name of Female: Cloia Ellen Payne
Residence: Winkler, Phelps, Missouri, United States
Age: 18
Date of Application: 12 January 1909

Analysis: This document is the marriage application for Clarence’s parents. This date roughly fits to have had a two month old child in the household during the 1910 enumeration. The location is also the same as the birth location shown for Clarence. Winkler is about six miles south of DeCamp.[21] The signature of John Wesley Wisdom on the document is the same as on his WW1 draft document and shows that he was probably the informant.

CENSUS RECORDS

1890 U.S. Census

The vast majority of the 1890 U.S. Census was destroyed in a fire and so it is largely not extant.[22] Tax records for the year are often used as a substitute, however this would not account for people renting their land and home.

1900 U.S. Census, Texas Co., Missouri – John Wisdom

Citation: 1900 U.S. Census, Texas Co., Missouri population schedule, Pierce, ED 143, sheet 6B, dwelling 108, family 109, John Wisdom household, digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/) > Missouri > Texas > Pierce > District 0143; citing NARA microfilm T623, Roll 906. [See Attachment #5]

Extract:

Name Relation Race Sex Birth Month Birth Year Age Marital Years Married Birthplace Father’s Birthplace Mother’s Birthplace Occupation Own\Rent
Wisdom, John Head W M April 1848 52 27 [sic]

M

[sic]

Missouri Missouri Missouri Farmer O[wn]
–          Deliah Wife W F Mch 1850 50 M 27 Missouri Missouri Tennessee
–          Welsley Son W M Mch 1885 15 S 0 Missouri Missouri Missouri Farmer
–          Ruben Son W M Feby 1890 10 S 0 Missouri Missouri Missouri Farmer

Analysis: This document shows Welsley [sic] in his father’s household. This correlates with his parents’ names listed in his death record. His birth in March 1885 roughly correlates with his estimated birth. The fact that the parents had been married 27 years, but that the oldest child in the household was 15, suggests that there were older children from the marriage who had either died or moved away. The father here was a property owner, which is different from all of the later documents for later generations in the family. Texas County is adjacent to Phelps County.

1900 U.S. Census, Phelps Co., Missouri – Chloe E. Pane

Citation: 1900 U.S. Census, Phelps Co., Missouri population schedule, Meramec, ED 105, sheet 9B, dwelling 157 [7 overwritten by 6], family 158 [8 overwritten by 7] , Robert L. Payne household, digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/) > Missouri > Phelps > Meramec > District 0105; citing NARA microfilm T623, Roll 881. [See Attachment #6]

Extract:

Name Relation Race Sex Birth Month Birth Year Age Marital Years Married Birthplace Father’s Birthplace Mother’s Birthplace Occupation Own\Rent
Pane, Robert L. Head W M Mar 1866 34 M 14 Missouri Virginia Virginia Farmer

O

[wn]

–          Sarah E. Wife W F May 1871 29 M 14 Missouri Missouri Missouri
–          Cornelius V. Son W M July 1887 12 S Missouri Missouri Missouri
–          Chloe E. Daughter W F Nov 1889 10 S Missouri Missouri Missouri
–          George L. Son W M Apr 1894 6 S Missouri Missouri Missouri
–          Lorn A. Son W M Dec 1896 3 S Missouri Missouri Missouri
–          Alfa J. Daughter W F July 1899 10/12 S Missouri Missouri Missouri

Analysis: This family’s surname matches her father’s surname in her death record, but with a slight spelling variation that is not unusual for this time period. Chloe E.’s birth of November 1889 correlates with the date of birth on her headstone.

1910 U.S. Census, Phelps Co., Missouri – John W. Wisdom

Citation: 1910 U.S. Census, Phelps Co., Missouri population schedule, Meramec, ED 66, sheet 7B, dwelling 137, family 137, John W. Wisdom household, digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/)  > Missouri > Phelps > Meramec > District 0066; citing NARA microfilm T624, Roll 797. [No attachment provided]

Extract:

Name Relation Sex Race Age Marital Years Married Birthplace Father’s Birthplace Mother’s Birthplace Occupation Owned or Rented
Wisdom, John W. Head M W 25 M1 1 Missouri Missouri Missouri Laborer R[ent]
–          Ella Wife F W 20 M1 1 Missouri Missouri Missouri None
–          Archie H. Son M W 2/12 S Missouri Missouri Missouri None

Analysis: This document shows the young parents and their first child who was listed as two months old. The page prior shows the household of William H. Wisdom, age 33. Meramec Township contained the town of DeCamp, which was where Clarence was born, and which was also listed as the previous residence of Ella before she died. They had been married one year in 1910 which correlates with their marriage application in 1909. Archie H. was same person as Homer in the 1930 enumeration in Pacific Township.

1920 U.S. Census, Crawford Co., Missouri – Wesley Wisdom

Citation: 1920 U.S. Census, Crawford Co., Missouri population schedule, Union, ED 13, sheet 11A, dwelling 223, family 227, Wesley Wisdom household, digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/) > Missouri > Crawford > Union > District 0013; citing NARA microfilm T625, Roll 905. [See Attachment #7]

Extract:

Name Relation Sex Race Age Marital Birthplace Father’s Birthplace Mother’s Birthplace Occupation Home Owned
Wisdom, Wesley Head M W 35 M Missouri Missouri Missouri Woodcutter R[ent]
–          Homer A Son M W 9 S Missouri Missouri Missouri none
–          Clarence E Son M W 7 S Missouri Missouri Missouri none
–          Elsie P Daughter F W 5 S Missouri Missouri Missouri none
–          Ermal E. Son M W 2 S Missouri Missouri Missouri none
Wisdom, Deliha Mother F W 68 WD Missouri Missouri Missouri none

Analysis: This document shows the family, less a wife. The husband was listed as married, while his mother was listed as widowed. The inference is that the wife was living but absent from the home and this correlates with her 1919 commitment to the State Hospital. The household listed before this one was that of William H. Wisdom, age 49. Perhaps he was a sibling or cousin. Wesley’s age of 35 years was probably close to his actual age. Union Township is adjacent to Meramec Township in Phelps County.

1920 U.S. Census, St. Francois Co., Missouri – Ella Wisdom

Citation: 1920 U.S. Census, St. Francois Co., Missouri population schedule, Farmington, ED 103, sheet 8A, State Hospital No. 4, Ella Wisdom, Patient, digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/) > Missouri > St. Francois > Farmington > District 0103; citing NARA microfilm T625, Roll 945.

[See Attachment #8]

Extract:

Name Relation Sex Race Age Marital Birthplace Father’s Birthplace Mother’s Birthplace Occupation Home Owned
Wisdon [sic], Ella Patient F W 30 M Missouri Kentucky US

Analysis: Ella Wisdom was missing from her husband’s household in 1920 because she was a patient at State Hospital No. 4 in Farmington, St. Francois County, Missouri. This hospital primarily served the southeastern quarter of the state which included Phelps and Crawford counties.[23] Her age correlates with the age listed in her husband’s 1910 household. The residence also correlates with her residence two years later upon her death.

1930 U.S. Census, Franklin Co., Missouri – Homer Wisdom

Citation: 1930 U.S. Census, Franklin Co., Missouri population schedule, Pacific City, ED 36-4, sheet 3B, dwelling 64, family 64, Homer Wisdom household, digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/) > Missouri > Franklin > Pacific > District 0004; citing NARA microfilm T626, Roll 1187.

[No attachment provided]

Extract:

Name Relation Sex Race Age Marital Age at first Marriage Birthplace Father’s Birthplace Mother’s Birthplace Occupation Home Owned
Wisdom, Homer Head M W 20 M 18 Missouri Missouri Missouri Laborer R[ent]
–          Goldie Wife F W 17 M 15 Missouri Missouri Missouri None
–          Myrtle A Daughter F W 7/12 S Missouri Missouri Missouri None
–          Clarence Brother M W 17 S Missouri Missouri Missouri None

Analysis: This document shows Clarence living in the home of his brother Homer and correlates with both individuals in the 1920 household of Wesley Wisdom. Clarence’s age of 17 also fits with his birth record.

1930 U.S. Census, Phelps Co., Missouri – John W. Wisdom

Citation: 1930 U.S. Census, Phelps Co., Missouri population schedule, St. James, ED 81-13, sheet 3B, dwelling 58, family 60, John W. Wisdom household, digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/) > Missouri > Phelps > Saint James > District 0013; citing NARA microfilm T626, Roll 1216.

[No attachment included]

Extract:

Name Relation Sex Race Age Marital Age at first Marriage Birthplace Father’s Birthplace Mother’s Birthplace Occupation Home Owned
Wisdom, John W. Head M W 40 Wd Missouri Missouri Missouri Farmer R[ent]

Analysis: John W. Wisdom was a widow which correlates with the death of his wife in 1922. His age of 40 does not fit well with his probable actual age of 45-47 years. He was listed as a renter, which is the same as the previous census records. This means that it is unlikely there are any deed records to find and so there was no search for any in this report. The exception would be if he farmed land he owned but lived on another rented property.

MILITARY RECORDS

World War II Draft Registration Card for Clarence Everett Wisdom (1940)

Citation: “U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947,” database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2238/) > Missouri > Whipple-Zytowski > Winfrey, James-Witcosky, Paul > images 3627 and 3628 of 5350, card for Clarence Everett Wisdom, Phelps Co., Missouri; citing Draft Registration Cards for Missouri, 10/16/1940 – 03/31/1947, NAI: 7644737, Selective Service System, Missouri State Headquarters, 1942-1947, NARA, St. Louis, Missouri.

[See Attachment #9]

Extract:

Name: Clarence Everett Wisdom
Serial Number: 427
Marital status: Married
Birth Date/Place: 10 Apr. 1912, Phelps Co., MO, USA
Residence Place: St. James, Phelps Co., MO, USA
Name of Contact: Mrs. Mary Ellen Wisdom (wife)
Employer’s Name: Unemployed
Race: White
Date: 16 Oct. 1940

Analysis: This document is consistent with Clarence’s birth date and location in his delayed birth certificate. The name of his spouse is consistent with what the name of the spouse on their common headstone.

World War I Draft Registration Card for John Wesley Wisdom (1918)

Citation: “United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1968530) > Missouri > Phelps County A-Z > image 2853 of 2947, card for John Wesley Wisdom, Phelps Co., Missouri; citing NARA microfilm M1509. [See Attachment #10]

Extract:

Name: John Wesly [sic] Wisdom
Permanent Address: Vilean, Phelps Co., Missouri
Age: 37
Birth Date: 29 March 1881
Race: White
Occupation: Mining
Nearest Relative: Wife [name unstated]
Date: 12 September 1918

Analysis: This was the third registration of the draft. “The 3rd started 12 Sep 1918 for men ages 18-45.”[24] Because he was born before 1886, he was too old to register for the earlier registrations. He most likely was the informant for this information and his date of birth is different from any others. The handwriting that filled out the information was much neater than John’s signature, and his name was misspelled in the handwritten portion, suggesting that John provided the information and another person filled out the form.

OBITUARY

Obituary for Clarence Everett Wisdom (1977)

Citation: “Clarence E. Wisdom,” obituary, St. James Leader Journal, 20 July 1977, p.14A, col. 6; microfilm image provided by James Memorial Public Library, St. James, Missouri, with no identifying microfilm identification. [See Attachment #11]

Extract:

Decedent: Clarence Everett Wisdom
Death: 12 July 1977 in Rolla, Phelps County, Missouri
Burial: Adams Cemetery, Meramec Township, Phelps County, Missouri
Birth: 10 April 1912 in DeCamp, Phelps County, Missouri
Spouse: Mary Ellen Roark, married 1934
Father: John Wisdom, deceased
Mother: Ella (Payne) Wisdom, deceased
Siblings: Homer Wisdom, deceased, Emil Wisdom, deceased, and Elsie (Wisdom) Walls, living
Employment: Retired from International Shoe Co., St. James, Phelps County, Missouri

Analysis: The informant for this obituary is unknown, but it was likely a family member who may have had first-hand knowledge of the names of the siblings and parents. The names of the siblings correlates to the 1920 enumeration of John Wesley Wisdom’s household. The date of birth matches the delayed birth certificate and the date of death would have been derived from his death certificate. The burial location matches the location of the headstone.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH:

  • Look for military service records of Clarence Wisdom during WWII using com.
  • Look for more documentation of the parents of John Wesley Wisdom.
    • Use com to extrapolate information from the 1900 enumeration in Texas Co, Missouri to locate this same family in the 1880 census.
    • Continue looking for earlier and later census records for the parents.
  • Look for more documentation of the parents of Chloe Ella Payne.
    • Use com to extrapolate information from the 1900 enumeration in Phelps Co, Missouri to locate this same family in the 1880 census.
    • Continue looking for earlier and later census records for the parents.
  • Search for land records for John Wisdom, born about 1848; try and find where the property he owned, listed in the 1900 Texas Co., Missouri enumeration, was located.
  • Search for land records for Robert L. Payne, born about 1866; try and find where the property he owned, listed in the 1900 Phelps Co., Missouri enumeration, was located.
  • Search for probate records for any of the individuals listed in this report, as well as new individuals found in future research.
  • Search for death records in Missouri for the other individuals in this report using Missouri Digital Heritage.
  • Search for DeCamp mine company records that might show employment for John Wisdom/ listed as miner in the WW1 Draft Registration. The State Historical Society of Missouri repository in Rolla specializes in old mining records because the local university started as a mining school.

ENDNOTES:

[1] [Name Redacted,] interview by author, 29 October 2020, notes privately held by author.  [Name Redacted] spoke from personal knowledge of the names of his grandparents and approximate birth and death years.

[2] Ibid.

[3] State of Missouri, Delayed or Special Certificate of Birth, Cert. no. 144577 (1943), Clarence Everett Wisdom, certified copy of original in author’s files; Bureau of Vital Records, Jefferson City, Missouri.

[4] Adams Cemetery (Phelps County, Missouri, off of Highway F, between Highways 72 and 68), headstone of Clarence E. and Mary E. Wisdom, photographed by author on 16 November 2020. Photo in author’s files.

[5] Missouri Secretary of State, “Brief History of Vital Records in Missouri,” (https://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/bdrecords).

[6] Ibid.

[7] Missouri Digital Heritage, (https://s1.sos.mo.gov/records/archives/archivesdb/birthdeath/Results.aspx), negative results for relevant births using surname Wisdom in all Missouri counties.

[8] State of Missouri, Death Certificate, cert. no. 28490, John Wesley Wisdom (1969); “Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1969,” database with images, Missouri Digital Heritage. (https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1969/1969_00046922.PDF), State File No. 69 0046922, Phelps Co.

[9] Adams Cemetery (Phelps County, Missouri, off of Highway F, between Highways 72 and 68), headstone of Ella Wisdom and John Wesley Wisdom, photographed by author on 16 November 2020. Photo in author’s files.

[10] Missouri Digital Heritage, (https://s1.sos.mo.gov/records/archives/archivesdb/birthdeath/Results.aspx), negative results for relevant births using surname Payne/Pane/Pain in all Missouri counties.

[11] “Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991,” Database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2060668) > Phelps > Marriage Applications 1907-1910 > images 620 and 621 of 1161, application for John Wesley Wisdom and Cloia Ellen Payne, 1909; citing Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City.

[12] 1920 U.S. Census, Crawford Co., Missouri population schedule, Union, ED 13, sheet 11A, dwelling 223, family 227, Wesley Wisdom household, digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/) > Missouri > Crawford > Union > District 0013; citing NARA microfilm T625, Roll 905.

[13] “Clarence E. Wisdom,” obituary, St. James Leader Journal, 20 July 1977, p.14A, col. 6; microfilm image provided by James Memorial Public Library, St. James, Missouri, with no identifying microfilm identification.

[14] Phelps County, Missouri, County Court Record Book P: 100, case against Ella Wisdom, judged to be insane, 15 April 1919; County Clerk’s Office, Rolla. No relatives or vital details were specified. Image of this record in the author’s files.

[15] State of Missouri, Death Certificate, cert. no. 294459, Ella Wisdom (1922); “Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1969,” database with images, Missouri Digital Heritage (https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/ 1922/1922_00031465.PDF), File No. 29459, St. Francois Co. The date of admittance to the hospital, calculated from her date of death, was the day after her court committal.

[16] Adams Cemetery (Phelps County, Missouri, off of Highway F, between Highways 72 and 68), headstone of Ella Wisdom and John Wesley Wisdom, photographed by author on 16 November 2020. Photo in author’s files.

[17] Adams Cemetery (Phelps County, Missouri, off of Highway F, between Highways 72 and 68), headstone of Ella Wisdom and John Wesley Wisdom, photographed by author on 16 November 2020. Photo in author’s files.

[18] United States Geological Service, website (https://geonames.usgs.gov/apex/f?p=GNISPQ:3:::NO::P3_FID:740040), search for DeCamp (historical), coordinates returned were Latitude 37.9000426, Longitude -91.5954312. These coordinates were entered in Google Earth to provide a location approximately 0.75 miles northeast of Adams Cemetery.

[19] Hathitrust Digital Library, website, (https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3001478&view=1up&seq=1261); citing Appendix to the House and Senate Journals of the General Assembly, State of Missouri, “Tenth Biennial Report of State Hospital NO.4 to the Governor and the Fifty-First General Assembly of the State of Missouri, Containing Detailed Statement of Disbursements for the Years 1919 and 1920,” see Table No. 10, page 17, for list of diagnoses for patients admitted to this hospital in 1920.

[20] Margarita Tartakovsky, “History of Psychology: The Birth and Demise of Dementia Praecox,” web article in PsychCentral.com (https://psychcentral.com/blog/history-of-psychology-the-birth-and-demise-of-dementia-praecox/), last updated 8 July 2018.

[21] GoogleMaps, (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Winkler,+MO+65560/@37.8358743,-91.5746054,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x87da48542b19f3c5:0xfc43442364ccd147!8m2!3d37.8358761!4d-91.5570958), search for Winkler, MO, located on state highway 68 between St. James and Salem, Missouri.

[22] United States Census Bureau, Availability of 1890 Census, web article (https://www.census.gov/history/www/genealogy/decennial_census_records/availability_of_1890_census.html).

[23] Hathitrust Digital Library, website, (https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3001478&view=1up&seq=1261); citing Appendix to the House and Senate Journals of the General Assembly, State of Missouri, “Tenth Biennial Report of State Hospital NO.4 to the Governor and the Fifty-First General Assembly of the State of Missouri, Containing Detailed Statement of Disbursements for the Years 1919 and 1920,” see Table No. 8, page 15, for list of counties sending patients to this hospital in 1920.

[24] “United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” description of collection, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1968530).

Attachment #1 [Birth Certificate Redacted]

Attachment #2 (front side)

John Wesley Wisdom Death Certificate

Citation: State of Missouri, Death Certificate, cert. no. 28490, John Wesley Wisdom (1969).

Attachment #3

Ella Wisdom Death Certificate

Citation: State of Missouri, Death Certificate, cert. no. 294459, Ella Wisdom (1922).

Attachment #4 (front and back side)

Marriage of John Wesley Wisdom and Cloia Ellen Payne

Citation: “Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991,” application for John Wesley Wisdom and Cloia Ellen Payne, 1909.

 

Attachment #5

1900 Census Wesley Wisdom

Citation: 1900 U.S. Census, Texas Co., Missouri population schedule, Pierce, ED 143, sheet 6B, dwelling 108, family 109, John Wisdom household.

 

Attachment #6

1900 Census Robert Payne and Chloe Payne

Citation: 1900 U.S. Census, Phelps Co., Missouri population schedule, Meramec, ED 105, sheet 9B, dwelling 157 [7 overwritten by 6], family 158 [8 overwritten by 7] , Robert L. Payne household.

 

Attachment #7

1920 Wesley Wisdom

Citation: 1920 U.S. Census, Crawford Co., Missouri population schedule, Union, ED 13, sheet 11A, dwelling 223, family 227, Wesley Wisdom household.

 

Attachment #8

1920 Census Ella Wisdom

Citation: 1920 U.S. Census, St. Francois Co., Missouri population schedule, Farmington, ED 103, sheet 8A, State Hospital No. 4, Ella Wisdom, Patient.

 

Attachment #9 (front side and back side)

Clarence Wisdom WWII Draft Card

Citation: “U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947,” card for Clarence Everett Wisdom, Phelps Co., Missouri, images 3627 and 3628 of 5350.

 

Attachment #10

John Wesley Wisdom WWI Draft Card

Citation: “United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” FamilySearch, card for John Wesley Wisdom, Phelps Co., Missouri.

 

Attachment #11

Clarence Everett Wisdom Obituary

Citation: “Clarence E. Wisdom,” obituary, St. James Leader Journal, 20 July 1977, p.14A, col. 6.

 

Attachment #12

Phelps Co., MO Bicentennial Map

Citation: Alice Smallwood and Earl Strebeck, editors, History of St. James, Missouri 1776 – 1976 (Bixler Printing Co., St. James, MO., July 1976), p.148, map drawn by Barb Campbell.