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.