Eighth Generation

57. Oral Harriet BELCHER^49,50,51 was born on 19 October 1873 in Germantown Township, Juneau County, WI.^{1,16,52,53,54} She appeared in the census in 1880 in Necedah, Juneau County, WI.¹⁸ She appeared in the census in 1900 in Moundville Township, Marquette County, WI.⁵⁵ Oral appeared in the census in 1905 in Moundville Township, Marquette County, WI.⁵⁶ She appeared in the census in 1910 in Moundville Township, Marquette County, WI.⁴⁹ She appeared in the census in 1920 in Moundville Township, Marquette County, WI.⁵⁰ Oral appeared in the census in 1930 in Endeavor, Moundville Township, Marquette County, WI.⁵¹ She died on 30 May 1944 at the age of 70 in Endeavor, Moundville Township, Marquette County, WI.^31,53,54,57

Obituary Notes: "Mrs. Oral Harrison (nee Belcher) was born in Germantown, October 19, 1873, and died May 30, 1944, at her home in Endeavor.

She is survived by her husband and seven children: Charles, of Wilton; Frank, Jr., of Endeavor; Lee, of Janesville; Sam and Ben in the U.S. Navy; Jessie, of Ontario; and Sarah, of Milwaukee; four grandchildren--LaVonne and Stanley Harrison, Robert Eggleston, and Gail Harrison; three brothers and one sister--George Belcher, Tomah; Rufus, Sparta; and Herbert of Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Bertha McLeod, of North Carolina; also nieces and nephews. Three children preceded her in death.

Burial was made in the Hillcrest Cemetery at Endeavor."

She was buried on 2 June 1944 in Endeavor, Moundville Township, Marquette County, WI.^54,58 in the Hillcrest Cemetery. (Her given name is listed as "Oral" on her gravestone and in the 1910, 1920 and 1930 Census records; other sources list it as "Orril.")

Oral Harriet BELCHER and Frank F. "Tom" HARRISON were married on 1 June 1897 in Westfield Township, Marquette County, WI.^1,51,53,57 According to the 1900 Census, they had been married for three years.

At that time she had 3 children, all of whom were living. She eventually had seven children.

. Frank F. "Tom" HARRISON was born on 10 April 1874 in Moundville Township, Marquette County, WI.^{49,50,51,53,55,56,57} According to the 1910 and 1920 Census records, his parents were both born in Vermont. According to the 1905 and 1930, his father was born in Canada (French) and his mother in Vermont.

Frank's name was apparently originally "Tom Ellis." He was listed as the adopted son, age 5, born in Wisconsin, of Samuel and Elizabeth (Beavis) Ellis in the 1880 Census of Moundville. Samuel and Elizabeth were both born in England. He changed his name to Frank Harrison between the 1900 Census and the 1905 Census, but the reason is unknown.

From the research of Lois Bartels: "This family has been so confusing and between Margie Buege and myself, we spent many hours trying to sort this out. I have sent this as a genealogy report because it shows what I have added to it that which Margie has written about the family, thinking that may help you understand what we have found.

First of all, Margie found, while searching at Vital Records in Madison, that Oral Belcher had married a Tom Ellis. When she told me that, I started searching for census records and first found the 1900 census that had children Frank, Jessie and Sarah listed. I remembered these three as being Harrison's, so I looked for them then as Harrison's and found them all with that name 5 years later. Sometime after that, I found the 1800 census that says that Tom Ellis was adopted. It seems that "Frank" Harrison was always known as Tom. Why the name change came to be, we haven't a clue.

Then there is young Frank, who I always knew as Frank Harrison. I never could find any birth records or anything for him, so one day I decided to try "Frank Belcher," since I had found out that he too had been born before Oral married. I then found a notice reporting his birth and also a WWI registration and the 1910 census.

I always knew about her firstborn, Charles Belcher. Mother always called him "Uncle Charlie" and so did we, even tho' it was known that he wasn't really her uncle, but a cousin instead, but I suppose "the world" didn't know that.

I really haven't quite figured out how I want to put this all together yet. Right now, it is pretty much put together as Margie wants it for her book, but I know I will have to do something different with what I have. I am hoping to be able to add more yet, because I know that Ben & Sylvia had children because the last time I saw them, in 1961, they had grandchildren with them. Margie has been in contact with the son of Frank and Evelyn, but he doesn't seem to be very interested in talking to her about family.

So far as anything we have been able to find out or from what I can remember, Frank "Tom" and Oral were only married once, to each other, although Tom may have remarried after Oral died. I have no idea who the father or fathers of Charles and young Frank were. Frank was born 3 years before his mother married Tom and more years than that before Tom became Frank, so there may or may not have been a connection."

His adopted name was "Thomas Henry Ellis."

. He appeared in the census in 1880 in Moundville Township, Marquette County, WI.⁵⁹ He was listed as the "adopted" son of Samuel and Elizabeth Ellis. He appeared in the census in 1900 in Moundville Township, Marquette County, WI.⁵⁵ He was listed as "Thomas H. Ellis," born April 1875 in Wisconsin, age 25, occupation "Day Laborer." His parents are listed as having been born in England.

His household consisted of Thomas; his wife, Oral; his stepson, Frank; and his daughters, Jessie and Sarah.

. Tom appeared in the census in June 1905 in Moundville Township, Marquette County, WI.⁵⁶ His household consisted of Frank, Oral, Jessie and Sarah and his occupation was "Day Laborer." His wife's son, Frank, was not living with them; the reason is unknown.

. He appeared in the census in 1910 in Moundville Township, Marquette County, WI.⁴⁹ His household was on Lake View Street and his occupation was "Laborer, Odd Jobs." His household consisted of Frank, Oral, Jessie, Sarah and Samuel.

. He appeared in the census in 1920 in Moundville Township, Marquette County, WI.⁵⁰ His household consisted of Frank, Oral, Sarah, Samuel, Lee and Benjamin, and his occupation was "Laborer, Farm."

. Tom appeared in the census in 1930 in Endeavor, Moundville Township, Marquette County, WI.⁵¹ His household consisted of Frank, Oral, Samuel, Lee and Benjamin, and his occupation was "Laborer, Day Odd Jobs."

. He died on 3 February 1953 at the age of 78 in Packwaukee, Marquette County, WI.^53,57 He died of senility and arteriosclerosis. He was buried in Endeavor, Moundville Township, Marquette County, WI.⁵⁸ in the Hillcrest Cemetery.

Oral Harriet BELCHER and Frank F. "Tom" HARRISON had the following children:

Oral Harriet BELCHER had the following children: