The Children of James & Dorothy Woodburn

Jim and Dorothy Woodburn married 28 June 1942, in Carlisle, Sullivan, Indiana, just months before he enlisted in the Army during WWII (September). Two weeks shy of one year later, They had a son, Dennis Charles. 19 months later, a second son was born, James William. It is likely the boys were named after their father and and their maternal grandfather, Dennis William Rembe.

Charles Dennis Woodburn was born 9 September 1943, in Cleveland, Ohio, where his father was stationed during World War II. The family lived there for less than a year after his birth before moving back home. He graduated from Princeton High School in 1961. He married his high school sweetheart, Diane Patrick, in December 1961. He enlisted in the Marines the same year. A daughter was born in 1964, Elizabeth Jane, however, the couple divorced in 1966. Dennis married four more times before selecting his final bride, Theresa Brown, whom he married in 1981 and lived with until his death 28 January 2005.

James William Woodburn was born 28 April 1945, in Princeton, Indiana. He graduated from Princeton High School in 1963. He attended Oakland City College for a short time, majoring in poker. He married Mary Lee Gray in 1969 and had a son, James William Jr., the following year. They divorced the same year and and Jim Jr. died in 1972 from a birth defect. Jim married again in 1971, to Rebecca Lu McKenzie. Jim adopted Becky's son, David, from her first marriage before they had their own children, Janelle Elizabeth and Jason Kyle Woodburn.

After Jim and Dorothy divorced in 1952, the two boys endured years of constant housing arrangements, military schools and living with relatives. They were always in the same town, but frequently lived with different relatives.

Dorothy Jean Rembe Woodburn

Dorothy Jean Rembe was born 5 April 1919, in Oakland City, Gibson, Indiana, to Dennis William Rembe and Minnie Ethel Ayers. She was the second of three children, following Ruth Evelyn (1917), and preceeding William Franklin (1922).

She married James Charles Woodburn, 28 June 1942, in Carlisle, Sullivan, Indiana. They had two sons: Charles Dennis, born 9 September 1943, and James William, born 28 April 1945, both in Princeton. The couple divorced in July 1952, and the children endured many housing arrangements with parents and relatives.

Dorothy married again, in 1975, to Norman Dale Robertson, in Los Angeles, California. They divorced in 1980.

She passed away 29 October 2002, in the home of her son Dennis, in Jacksonville, Florida.

James Charles Woodburn

James Charles Woodburn was the first of four children, born Charles Samuel Woodburn, July 31, 1910, Evansville, Vanderburgh, Indiana, to Harry and Dora Woodburn. He was the firstborn of twins. His Christian and middle names were derived from his grandfathers (maternal and paternal, respectively). However, Harry did not like calling him Charles or Sam, so he told all he would be forever known as Jim.

Following the outbreak of World War II, he volunteered with the U.S. Army, enlisting 21 September 1942 . He served in communications and ascended to the rank of staff sergeant.

He met Dorothy Jean Rembe, daughter of Dennis William Rembe and Minnie Ethel Ayers, sometime in late 1941 or even as late as early 1942. They married in 28 June 1942, in Carlisle, Sullivan County, Indiana (a place appearantly known for fast weddings).

They lived in Princeton and had two sons: Charles Dennis and James William (half of both names being part of their father's name and their mother's father). Their relationship was a rocky one and they divorced by 1952. Dorothy Jean Rembe was born 5 April 1919, in Oakland City, Gibson, Indiana, the second daughter of William Dennis and Minnie Ethel (Ayers) Rembe. She died 28 October 2002, at her son Dennis’ home in Jacksonville, Duvall, Florida. She was cremated.

Jim's sisters noted that Jim was an impatient man with a quick temper. Jim completely lost his vision by 1956. Jim died of a gunshot wound while cleaning a rifle, 26 July 1963.

The following is an article from the Princeton Daily Clarion the day after Jim's death, 26 July, 1963:

Princeton Man Killed While Cleaning Rifle

The death Thursday of a 52-year-old Princeton man was ruled accidental, it was reported today by Gibson County Coroner Robert Wade.

The victim: James C. Woodburn, a retired bartender, was found dead at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in his apartment at 216 S. Gibson by James McDonald. Mr. Woodburn's apartment was in a small house behind the McDonald home and the latter said he became concerned about Mr. Woodburn because he hadn't seen him since 8 a.m.

Mr. Woodburn, who had lost his eyesight in recent years, was found lying on the floor after being shot in the left side of his chest with a .22 calibre automatic rifle which he had apparently been cleaning. Wade said death was apparently instantaneous. No one reported having heard a shot.

Wade said the floor around the victim was covered in newspapers and oil, probes and rags were found near the body. The coroner said Mr. Woodburn had been dead since 8 a.m. Thursday.

Born July 31, 1910, in Evansville, Mr. Woodburn had lived most of his life in Princeton. He formerly worked at the Princeton Elks Club. He was a veteran of World War II and was a member of the Elks and American Legion Post No. 25.

Surviving are his mother, Mrs. Dora Woodburn, Princeton; two sons, Charles Dennis, in the U.S. Marine Corps stationed in Hawaii, and Jimmy, at home; three sisters, Mrs. Jane Frick and Mrs. Elizabeth Mason, both of Princeton, and Mrs. Joseph Geesken, Evansville; several aunts and uncles.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Wright and Kendall Funeral Home. The Rev. D. McCoy will officiate. Burial will follow in Decker Cemetary, north of Princeton. Friends may call at the funeral home after 3 p.m. Sunday.

Photographs in this post include: James C. Woodburn, c. World War II.

Maternal Families - McKenzie

Part four of the maternal families is the McKenzie family. This group will undoubtedly be the subject of my next blog, as it is my mother's paternal family. The spelling of McKenzie is quite varied, as I have found it spelled multiple ways. For instance: MacKenzie, McKinsey, McKinsie, McKinzie, and so on.

The McKenzie family, as far as my research has allowed up to this point, begins with Daniel McKenzie. Though it is likely his ancestors arrived from Scotland, Daniel was born in Kentucky at the beginning of the 19th century. Daniel McKenzie married Mariah Storm around 1827, in Kentucky (and likely in Greyson Co.). She was the daughter of Peter Storm and Annie Lehman, born around1812. They had ten children: sons George (1829), Samuel (1832), George (1834), and Richard (1838), daughter Sarah (1840), sons Marion (1842), John (1844) Peter (1846), and daughters Hester (1850) and Georgana (1853).

Peter D. McKenzie was born April 1846, in Kentucky, and later moved to Warrick County, Indiana, sometime around 1870. He married Louisa J. Ricketts, 01 January 1874, in that county. They had two sons, James Garfield (1879) and William Madison (1881). After Lou's death, Peter married two more times.

The youngest of Peter and Louisa's children was William Madison McKenzie, born 2 January 1881, in Gibson Co., Indiana. He married Clyda Skelton (born 14 june 1882, in Gibson Co.) on 11 December 1904, in Princeton. They had three children: Lottie Marie (1905), Ray Defount(1908) and Lloyd Robert (1913). William died 30 August 1936, in Princeton, and Clyda died 4 March 1976, in Princeton.

Ray Defount McKenzie was born 20 July 1908, in Somerville, Gibson, Indiana. He married 31 October 1926, in Vincennes, Knox, Indiana, to Oleva Pearl Dossett, born 16 Octobr 1907, Union, Pike, Indiana. They had three children: William Robert (1929), Dorcas Anne (1932) and Rebecca Lu (1948). Ray died 20 October 1978, and Oleva died 25 September 1981, both in Princeton.

Their third child and second daughter, Rebecca Lu McKenzie first married David Blythe Hutchison, 4 February 1967. They had a son, David Cloyd, 20 December 1967, in Princeton. However, they divorced by 1969. Becky later met James William Woodburn and married 30 May 1971, in Oakland City, Gibson, Indiana. Together they had two children: Janelle Elizabeth (1974), and Jason Kyle (1976). You can read more about Jim and Becky in future posts titled James William Woodburn and Rebecca Lu McKenzie Woodburn.

Photographs in this post include: William and Clyda McKenzie on their wedding day, 11 December 1904; and their children - Marie, Lloyd and Ray; Ray, c. mid 1920's; Oleva, c. World War II.

Maternal Families - Rembe

Part three of the maternal families belongs to the Rembe clan.

The Rembe family began life in America after Louis Rembe and Christina Geiger made the long journey from Germany and first settled in Philadelphia in the early 1850's.

The following is an excerpt from a biography of their son, Henry, from Gil R. Stormont's The History of Gibson County, Indiana (1914) pp. 982-984:

...Both of his parents were born in Germany, and came to this country early in its history, first settling in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Louis Rembe was born August 19, 1825, in Sheffield, Germany, and his wife, Christiana Rembe, was born December 28, 1823, in Kronstadt. Louis Rembe was a weaver by trade and followed that occupation in Philadelphia for a time. Later the family came to Princeton, Indiana, where Louis Rembe worked at different occupations. He helped to build the old jail, several churches and various buildings in Princeton, and always found plenty of work to do because he was a man who could always be depended upon to give good service to his employer.

About 1865, Louis Rembe bought his first land in Center township...As he prospered he added to his land holdings and at one time owned three hundred and four acres of valuable land in the county. He was a Democrat, but never aspired to office, while religiously all of the family have been members of the German Lutheran church.

His wife died February 26, 1904, and he passed away March 13, 1903, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. Louis Rembe and wife were the parents of six children: Lewis, deceased; Sophia, the wife of Martin DeWeise, of Francisco, Indiana; Charles, a farmer of Center township; Henry, with whom this narrative deals; Lottie, the wife of Fred Logankamp, a farmer of Warrington, Indiana; and William, a farmer of Center township.

Mr. (Henry) Rembe was married April 26, 1899, to Barbara Keil, of Evansville, the daughter of Bernhart and Elizabeth B. (Steiner) Keil, who were natives of Germany. Mr. and Mr. Rembe have three children, Elizabeth C., Bernhart Henry and George Jacob.

* * * * * * *

Charles Rembe was born 30 September 1856, in Princeton, and married Sarah Elizabeth Skelton, 9 October 1879, in Mt. Carmal, Wabash, Illinois. Sarah was born 12 April 1858. She died in a buggy acciden, 28 May 1918, in Francisco. She was known to race her carriage often.

Together they had seven children: Lucy, Jessie, Viola, Julia, Dennis, Stella & Rex. After Sarah's death, Charles remarried and moved. He died 11 Nov 1939, in Mt. Grove, Missouri.

His son, my great-grandfather, shares a birthday with the author. Dennis William Rembe was born 15 September 1889, in Francisco, Indiana. He married married Minnie Ethel Ayers 12 Mar 1917 in Princeton. Minnie was born 12 September 1899, in Oakland City. Dennis died 9 February 1980, and Minnie passed 27 June 1996, both in Princeton. They had three children: Ruth Evelyn (1917), Dorothy Jean (1919) and William Franklin (1922).

Their second daughter Dorothy married James C. Woodburn and you can read more about them in the James Charles Woodburn and Dorothy Jean Rembe posts.

Maternal Families - Magerkurth

Part two of the maternal families encompasses all things Magerkurth.

Charles was born 4 September 1843, and Anna Catherina Simon (or Simone) was born October 1852, both in Germany.

Charles and Anna Magerkurth left Germany and arrived in America in 1871, setteling in Chicago, and raising four children there - Anna Margaret (1873), Albert (1877), Edward (1879) and Dora (1882). An accomplished upholsterer, Charles did some work for the Queen of England at one time. The family also owned property on the loop in Chicago.

After a move to Vanderburgh Co., Indiana, in 1882, the Magerkurth's had seven more children. Meta (1886), Rose (1890), Violet (1890), Elizabeth (1891), Marie (1893) and Carl (1896). Three children died at a very young age: Rose, Violet and an unnamed infant (1897).

Charles died in 30 June 1919, and Anna died 4 December 1944, both in Evansville. They are buried at Oak Hill Cemetary in Evansville.

Their daughter Dora married Harry Agar Woodburn, in Evansville, and you can read more about them in the posts Harry Agar Woodburn and Dora Magerkurth Woodburn.

Photographs in this post include: Anna Magerkurth, c. 1940's; Children of Anna Magerkurth reunion, c. unknown.

Maternal Families - Connor

Of course there would be no Woodburn families without a linkage with other families. The following are the maternal sides to my line - Connor, Magerkurth, Rembe, McKenzie, and for good measure, my wife's side, Davis.

The Connor family left County Westmeath, Ireland, and arrived in Vanderburgh County, Indiana at the end of 1844. Little is known of the family. The Connor name is certainly Irish with a common variation of O'Connor. The family owned a castle at one time. Dating back to the late 1600's, John & Sarah McCutchon bore Charles Connor, who married Catherine FItzgerald. Their son Thomas also married a Catherine, who had ten children, the seventh of which was Sarah, my great-great grandmother.

As is stated in earlier posts, Sarah Connor and Sam Woodburn married 25 November 1856. The rest is, well, chronicled history in this blog!

The documents in this post are by an unknown cousin.

Family Tree Maker Homepage

Here is a link to my Family Tree Maker homepage where all of my ancestiral families are represented.
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/w/o/o/Jason-K-Woodburn/

The Children of Harry & Dora Woodburn

Harry Woodburn and Dora Magerkurth bore four children. First, twins: Charles Samuel (named after the bride and groom's fathers, respectively) and Dorothy Jane, 31 July 1910, in Evansville, Indiana.On 22 October 1912, Sarah Elizabeth came into the family (also in Evansville). Because of Harry's failing eyesight, he stopped his traveling sales job and the family moved from Evansville to Princeton and took up farming. That same year, daughter Cornelia was born 16 September 1915.

The family lived on land provided to Harry by his older brother, James B. Woodburn - some sixty acres. Upon James' sudden death (a stroke) in 1920, his widow, Josie, attempted to retireve the land. The matter was taken to court, with Harry eventually keeping 15 acres. Sadly, Josie passed the same year as her husband, 10 November. The family lived on the property until the late 1990's.

James Charles Woodburn was the first of four children, born Charles Samuel Woodburn, July 31, 1910, Evansville, Vanderburgh, Indiana, to Harry and Dora Woodburn. He was the firstborn of twins. His Christian and middle names were derived from his grandfathers (maternal and paternal, respectively). However, Harry did not like calling him Charles or Sam, so he told all he would be forever known as Jim. Charles Samuel legally became James Charles sometime in the 1930’s. He volunteered in the U.S. Army, 21 September 1942 . He served in communications and ascended to the rank of staff sergeant.

He met Dorothy Jean Rembe, daughter of Dennis William Rembe and Minnie Ethel Ayers, sometime in late 1941 or even as late as early 1942. They married in June 1942 in Carlisle, Sullivan, Indiana (a place appearantly known for fast weddings). They lived in Princeton and had two sons: Charles Dennis and James William (half of both names being part of their father's name and their mother's father). Their relationship was a rocky one and they divorced by 1947. Dorothy Jean Rembe was born 5 April 1919, in Oakland City, Gibson, Indiana, the second daughter of William Dennis and Minnie Ethel (Ayers) Rembe. She died 28 October 2002, at her son Dennis’ home in Jacksonville, Duvall, Florida. She was cremated.

His sisters noted that Jim was an impatient man with a quick temper. Within a decade, of their divorce, Jim lost his vision completely (it has been suggested a bar fight caused this). Jim died of a gunshot wound while cleaning a rifle, 26 July 1963.

Dorothy Jane Woodburn was born 31 July 1910, in Evansville, Vanderburgh, Indiana, the second twin and child of Harry Agar & Dora Magerkurth Woodburn. She worked as a bookkeeper for Creesy Co., a wholesale grocer, in Evansville. During the depression, she sustained the family with her paycheck, as her mom was at home and her father's failing eyesight limited him to odd jobs. This also enabled her to call the shots, many times, and earned her a "bossy" reputation. Jane had a passion for gardening and reading. She did not marry until her late 30's, when she met Robert Frick. They married in Kentucky in March 1948, and lived in Princeton. Unfortunately, Bob left Jane for his first wife and they divorced in 1960. Jane lived at the family home on Top Hat Road, east of Princeton, until 1998, when a fall injured her hip. She took residence at The Waters, a nursing home in Princeton, until her death, 30 May, 2006.

Sarah Elizabeth Woodburn was born 22 October 1912, in Evansville, Vanderburgh, Indiana, the second daughter and third child of Dora Magerkurth & Harry Agar Woodburn.Also known as "Bett", she lost an eye at age nine during a baseball game. She graduated Princeton High School in 1931. She married Marshal Mason in 31 October 1935, and they had two children, Molley Jane (who died during infancy) and James Harry. Bett is currently 93 and lives on the fifth floor of Gibson General Hospital in Princeton.

The "baby" of the family is Cornelia Woodburn, aka Nelle. She married Joseph Francis Geesken in 18 August 1947, in Princeton, and moved to Evansville. They have a daughter, Terry Jo, 19 January 1950, who resides in New York City. Nellie is currently 90 and still lived at home. Sisters Jane and Bett note that it was very obvious that Harry favored Nelle, as they never were allowed to sit on his knee. Nelle said they were never fast enough to get there!

Photographs in this post include: The Woodburn children, left to right, Elizabeth, Jane, Nellie Jim, and an unknown boy lounging; Harry and Dora, c. 1930's; Nellie and Elizabeth, c. 1930's.

Dora Magerkurth Woodburn

Dora Magerkurth was the wife of Harry Agar Woodburn. Dora met Harry while working as a secretary at Mackey, Nesbit & Co. She was the daughter of German immigrants, Charles Magerkurth and Anna Catherina Simone.

She was born in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, on 28 July 1882. At six weeks old, the Magerkurth family moved to Vanderburgh County, Evansville, Indiana. Dora’s daughter Sara Elizabeth remembers her grandfather Charles telling her about the train ride that brought them to the area: “Your mother was six weeks old and rode on my knee the whole down.”

The Magerkurth family moved to Evansville, Vanderburgh, Indiana, to assist in Charles' bother's saloon and brewery business. Although that never came to pass, Charles thrived in his own antiques and upholstery work. He had even upholstered for the Queen of England at one time.

Because of Dora's plumpness as an infant, her parents nicknamed her Tusnelda, after the plump Queen of Bavaria. Dora graduated from Evansville High School in 1900. She taught at an Evansville school for one year before beginning work at Mackey, Nesbit & Co., where she eventually met Harry.

Dora was the fourth of eleven children: Anna Margaret, Albert, Edward, Meta, Elizabeth, Marie and Carl (three children died at a very young age, namely CHarles, Rose and VIolet). Harry and Dora wed 12 October 1907, in Evansville, Vanderburgh, Indiana.

All of her surviving children (three women in their 90's!) say she was a wonderful person. She died 30 October 1972.