Belle’s Box – 135

This entry is part 137 of 342 in the series Belle's Box

Read about this series of posts, regarding items in a box originally owned by Belle (Lamunion) Fellows Tinker here. The cast of characters is located here. And, there is an accounting of people about whom I have little information here.

135f

Addressed to:
Frank Fellows
Manton
Mich
The postmark was ruined when the stamp was ripped off.

135b

[dear] frank,
???? you alive
??? did not
[c]ome down I
had to work
I am coming
up there 17 and
stay to the 19
then I am going
to pa (or ha)
Ray DeButts Cadillac Mich

On the 1900 census of Franklin Township, Erie County Pennsylvania, sheet 3b, dwelling 59, family 60, the family of Henry Debutts is enumerated. The family includes Henry, 37, Cora, wife 24, Ray son age 10, born Michigan and Albert, son age 7. The couple had been married for eight years, so it isn’t clear if the couple were Ray’s parents, or one of them was his parent.

On or about June 4, 1917, Ray George DeButts, age 24, residing Grand Rapids, Michigan filed a registration card with the draft board. He said he was born in Lawrence, Michigan, was employed as a street car motorman, and had a dependant father. A not at the bottom of the card says, “enlisted in Co K 32d Mich Inf. N.G. on July 13/17”.

Ray G. Debutts is listed as KIA (Killed in Action) on 9/3/1918. His next of Kin is listed as H. Debutts, Boyne city, Mich.

Family of Albert Debutts is enumerated in Cadillac, Wexford, Michigan on the 1930 Federal census. I’m mentioning that because I recognize the family, one of the sons in that family, Preston, was a member of the church I attended in Cadillac.

Series NavigationBelle’s Box – 134Belle’s Box – 136

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.