Minnetta Ruth Watson1,2,3

ID# 7314, (1868 - 1947)
FatherJohn Quincy Watson4,5,6 (5 Oct 1842 - 9 Jul 1934)
MotherLucy Florence Walker4,5,7 (30 May 1849 - 9 Jul 1928)

Key Events:

Birth: 14 Aug 1868, White Pigeon, Michigan8,9,10
Marriage: 8 Jan 1906, Edwin Lehmann (29 Apr 1868 - 29 Mar 1941)11,12,13
Death: 11 Aug 1947, Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois14,11
Burial: 13 Aug 1947, Springdale Cemetery, Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois4
AncestryThe Glabe Family

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Minnetta Ruth Watson was born on 14 Aug 1868 in White Pigeon, Michigan.8,9,10 She was known to family as Min.15
     She appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Elkhart, Elkhart Co., Indiana, in the household of her parents, John Quincy Watson and Lucy Florence Walker.16 She moved with her parents to 1023 S. Adams, Peoria, Illinois, before 1876.17 She appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, in the household of her parents.6 She appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, in the household of her parents.18
     She was a stenographer before her marriage. City directories from 1893 until 1900 list her as a stenographer for The Bradstreet Co., one of the principal predecessor firms of Dun & Brandstreet Corporation. No employer is then listed until 1904, when she is listed as assistant bookkeeper for Arthur Lehmann & Co., the wholesale liquor business owned by the brother of her future husband, and where he was then general manager. She is listed with the same title the following year, then in 1906 and 1907 she is shown as a clerk with the firm, though it might be supposed that she left its employ when she and Edwin married in Jan 1906.19,18
     Minnetta married Edwin Lehmann, son of Joseph Lehmann and Barbara [surname unknown], on 8 Jan 1906.11,12,13 After their marriage, Min and Edwin lived at 1709 N. Perry Ave. until 1917.20,21
     Min's youngest sister, Jessie, and her husband, Joseph Frank Prenger, lived with Min and Edwin after their marriage in 1908, livng with them until about 1910.22
     Min and Edwin appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, at 1709 N. Perry Ave., enumerated 15 Apr 1910.23
     Min's parents, Lucy and John Quincy Watson, moved in with Edwin and Min about 1917, living with them the rest of their lives, except for a brief time about 1918 when they lived with their daughter Stella and her husband.24 After the death of Min's sister in 1917, her husband, Joseph Frank Prenger, and their two young sons moved in with the Lehmanns, and continued to live with them until the boys were grown and the Lehamanns moved away in 1935.15,25,26
     About 1918 Min and Edwin moved their extended family to 1201 North Monroe.27 About a year later, they moved to a large home at 309 North Institute Place, where they remained until 1935.28,29 Min and Edwin appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, at 309 N. Institute, enumerated 12 Jan 1920. Also listed in the household are her parents, Joseph Frank Prenger, the widower of her sister Jessie, his sons, Joseph and Edwin, and a 25 year old servant, Ethel Lightbody.30
     Her niece, Carmen Glabe Reigel, recalled that Aunt Min took her role as oldest sister very seriously - she was actually rather "bossy." As one example, Min insisted that Carmen attend the high school in her neighborhood because it was more elite than the one closer to Carmen's home.15
     Min and Edwin appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, at 309 North Institute Place, enumerated 14 Apr 1930, reporting that the family owned a home worth $30,000, and owned a radio. Her father, John Quincy Watson, is listed as living with them, as is the widower of her sister Jessie, Joseph Frank Prenger, and his sons Joseph and Edwin, and a 22 year-old servant, Etta Conover.26
     Min and Edwin moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, for a time about 1935, with her nephew Edwin. While there he married a girl from New Orleans.31,32
     They all returned to Peoria by 1940, with young Edwin and his wife living with them until the elder Edwin's death in 1941.33
     Min and Edwin appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, at 202 Doubet Ct., enumerated 5 Apr 1940, reporting that they were renting their home for $75 per month. Her nephew, Edwin Frederick Prenger, and his wife Marguerite were listed as living with them.34
     Her husband died on 29 Mar 1941 in Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois.35 Min moved to 2802 Main after his death.36
     Minnetta died on 11 Aug 1947 in Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, at age 78.14,11 She was buried on 13 Aug 1947 in Springdale Cemetery, Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois.4

Children:
     There were no children with Edwin Lehmann

Citations

  1. [S3462] "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," FamilySearch.org, record for Minnie Ruth Lehmann, citing FHL#1991869, cert no 34935, shows father's surname as Watson.
  2. [S904] John Q. Watson household, 1870 U.S. Census, Elkhart Co., Indiana, shows name as Minnetta Watson.
  3. [S368] John Q. Watson household, 1880 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows name as Minnia E. Watson.
  4. [S3462] "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," FamilySearch.org, record for Minnie Ruth Lehmann, citing FHL#1991869, cert no 34935.
  5. [S904] John Q. Watson household, 1870 U.S. Census, Elkhart Co., Indiana, shows them living apparently as parent and child.
  6. [S368] John Q. Watson household, 1880 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois.
  7. [S1883] Edwin Leahmann household, 1920 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows Lucy as mother-in-law of Minetta's husband.
  8. [S3462] "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," FamilySearch.org, record for Minnie Ruth Lehmann, citing FHL#1991869, cert no 34935, shows date, as 1868, city, and state, as White Pigeon, Wisconsin.
  9. [S904] John Q. Watson household, 1870 U.S. Census, Elkhart Co., Indiana, shows age 2 and state.
  10. [S913] John Q. Watson household, 1900 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows month, year, as 1867, age 32, and state.
  11. [S66] Pound, Family File "POUNDA~1.FTW," 31 Jan 1999, shows date.
  12. [S3465] Edwin Lehmann household, 1910 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows married 3 years.
  13. [S1725] Edwin Lehmann household, 1930 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows married, both at age 38.
  14. [S3462] "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," FamilySearch.org, record for Minnie Ruth Lehmann, citing FHL#1991869, cert no 34935, shows date, city, and state.
  15. [S24] Interview, Carmen Glabe Reigel, 7 Oct 1998.
  16. [S904] John Q. Watson household, 1870 U.S. Census, Elkhart Co., Indiana.
  17. [S3468] Root's Peoria City Directory, 1879, pg 305, lists James R. and John Q. Watson, both at 1023 S. Adams.
  18. [S913] John Q. Watson household, 1900 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois.
  19. [S3471] Franks Peoria City Directory, 1893 pg 737; 1894-1897 issues similarly; 1909 pg 715; 1904 pg 723; 1905 pg 735; 1906 pg 828; and 1907 pg 783.
  20. [S3472] White's Peoria City Directory, 1906 pg 480; and 1907 pg 452.
  21. [S3473] Peoria City Directory, 1916 pg 616; and 1917 pg 540.
  22. [S3471] Franks Peoria City Directory, 1909 pg 668 shows Joseph at 1709 N Perry av, the address of the Lehmanns.
  23. [S3465] Edwin Lehmann household, 1910 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois.
  24. [S3473] Peoria City Directory, 1917 pg 540 shows Edwin and Minnie R. Lehmann at 1709 N Perry av. and pg 878 shows John Q. and Lucy Watson at same address.
  25. [S1883] Edwin Leahmann household, 1920 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows Joseph and his two sons in the household.
  26. [S1725] Edwin Lehmann household, 1930 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois.
  27. [S3473] Peoria City Directory, 1918 pp 945, 1109, show the Lehmanns, and Prenger at 1201 North Monroe.
  28. [S3473] Peoria City Directory, 1919 pp 960, 1127, show the Lehmanns, and Prenger at 309 N Institute; all years later years found through 1929 show the Lehmanns, many years with Prenger and the Watsons, at the same address.
  29. [S3474] Polk's Peoria City Directory, 1930 through 1935, pg 370, show the Lehmanns at 309 N Institute, many years with the Prengers and John Watson at the same address.
  30. [S1883] Edwin Leahmann household, 1920 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois.
  31. [S3505] Edwin Lehmann household, 1940 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows all of them living in New Orleans in 1935.
  32. [S3474] Polk's Peoria City Directory, 1935 pg 370, is last listing of Lehmanns in Peoria until 1940; 1940 pp 342, 463 show them back in Peoria.
  33. [S3474] Polk's Peoria City Directory, 1935 pg 370, is last listing of Lehmanns in Peoria until 1940; 1940 pp 342, 463 and 1941 pp 387, 524, show Lehmanns, Prenger, and his wife at same address.
  34. [S3505] Edwin Lehmann household, 1940 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois.
  35. [S3462] "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," FamilySearch.org, record for Edwin Lehmann, citing FHL#1832580 and cn 12359.
  36. [S3474] Polk's Peoria City Directory, 1943 pg 286.