THE FACTS
Johanna Sargent was born January 2, 1884 to Jasper "Jack" and Mary Elizabeth (Adkins) Sargent in Martin County, Indiana. She was the middle of seven children with two sisters and a brother older than her and three brothers younger. Her sister Emma, just three years older, died in 1894 at age 13. Her oldest sister Etha died in March of 1898 just six months after the birth of her second child and Etha's husband died of tuberculosis just two months later. Then in June of the same year, Johanna's father died. In the 1900 census Johann and her older brother Asa are living in the household of William and Florence Miller along with their seven children in Martin County. Asa and Johanna are servants. Their mother is the head of household and has her three youngest children, aged 13, 12, and 3 along with her 2 year old granddaughter and her 72 year old mother, Jane Adkins, living with her.
On 29 Sep 1900, Johanna at the age of 16, married Lafayette Ellsworth Kirkman. Lafayette went by Elza and he had just lost his father in February of 1900. His mother still had seven children at home. Nine months after their marriage they welcomed their first child - Roscoe Ellsworth Kirkman in 1901. Then another son 1904, a daughter in 1907, a son in 1911, and another daughter in 1913. The youngest was born 6 Feb 1913 at 4:30 am and Johanna died the same day at 8:00 a.m.. Cause of death was organic heart disease following an attack of grippe [flu]. Contributing cause was the shook of childbirth. The following obituary was in the Bedford Daily on 14 Feb 1914, page 3:
FUNERAL
Of Mrs. Elza Kirkman, Who Died
At Avoca Thursday, Held
Friday
BURIAL BAPTIST CEMETERY
The funeral services for Mrs. Elza Kirkman who died at Avoca Thursday morning, were held from the Baptist church Friday at 3 o'clock. Burial was at the Old Baptist cemetery.
Mrs. Kirkman was survived by the husband and five children, one a baby only a few days old.
Then just a year later the father dies of pneumonia. Obituary from Bedford Daily, 19 Feb 1914, page 1.
FATAL
Elza Kirkman Died At Avoca Wednesday
Following Illness Of One Week
FUNERAL OCCURS SATURDAY
Elza Kirkman, a well know resident of Avoca, died Wednesday night at 8 o'clock of pneumonia from when he had suffered a little over one week.
He was 33 years of age and is survived by his children; 3 sons, Roscoe, John and Kenneth, and two daughters, Ann and Irene. His wife died over a year ago.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday forenoon at 10 o'clock at the Baptist church at Avoca. Burial will be at Avoca.
JOHANNA'S CHILDREN
1. Roscoe Ellsworth Kirkman 1901-1964
Roscoe was born 6 Jul 1901 in Avoca, Lawrence, IN. In 1920 he was living with his paternal grandmother. He married Bernice Mae Franklin 12 Aug 1922. They had seven children.
2. John Hillary Kirkman 1904-1979
John was born 18 May 1904 in Avoca, Lawrence, IN. In 1920 he was living with his maternal uncle Donald Sargent and his wife and listed as their adopted son. In August of that year he enlisted in the Army and served until August of 1923. John married Helen Mitchell June 1932. They had one child. They were divorced. In 1939 he was living in Dearborn, MI and working at the Ford factory. After retiring he moved to Florida and bought a trailer in a park on a lake in Deltona. He enjoyed fishing. He often visited with cousin Arnold Sargent in Orlando, whose parents had raised him after the death of his parents.
3. Mary Irene Kirkman 1907-1987
Irene was born 9 Feb 1907. In 1920 she is living with her paternal grandmother along with her brothers Roscoe and Curtis. In 1924 she married George Jones and they had two children.
4. Curtis Edgar Kirkman 1911-1994
Curtis was born 5 Mar 1911. In 1920 he was living with his paternal grandmother. In 1930 there is a bulletin out for fugitives from the law from Bloomfield, IN. It lists Curtis Kirkman and the alias Curtis Kirtman. He is wanted for robbery - he is 19, 5'8", 160 lbs. medium build, brown hair, hazel eyes, 1" cut/scare right eyebrow, tatoo "R.W.S." on chest. In 1933 in Oakland, California the FBI indicates they have apprehended Curtis. He was in San Quentin from August 1933 to Feb 1940 for robbery. In 1942 he was married and had two children.
5. Johanna Ruth Kirkman 1913-1990
Ruth was adopted by her maternal uncle Donald Sargent. The story is that Ruth could not handle cows milk and that they would have to go to the neighbors for goat milk everyday to feed her as an infant. In 1930 she was still with her adopted parents. In May of 1930 she married Howard Ellsworth Brown. They had five children. In 1947 Ruth married Douglas Walton and they had two children.
HOW ARE WE RELATED
Johanna Sargent is my 1st great aunt - She is the sister of my paternal grandfather Donald Sargent.
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