Thomas James Porter

Born 24 August 1922 at Manhattan, New York County, New York

Died 21 May 1998 at Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana

Thomas was the son of English immigrant Thomas Alfred Porter and Scottish immigrant Mary S. McCafferty Porter. His parents were naturalized at Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1914 and his father served in the United States Army during World War I. Thomas was raised briefly at the village of Tarrytown in the town of Greenburgh, New York where his father was a chauffeur. The family relocated to New York City sometime before 1929 where his father was a private family chauffeur. Thomas married first to Jean More on 14 October 1947 at Roxbury, New York. Thomas and Jean were the parents of five children; four daughters and one son, all born at Margaretville, New York. Thomas and Jean divorced sometime before 1964. Thomas resided at Fremont, Indiana with his wife, Dorothy McConnell Porter, at the time of his death. He died at Lutheran Hospital at Fort Wayne as a result of a cardiorespiratory arrest. His usual occupation was hotel manager. His body was cremated at NICC Crematory at Fort Wayne but the final disposition of his cremains is unknown. As the husband of Jean More, he is John More Association Jonas line cousin #M47181.

©2017 Cindy Coffell

Delight Boise Butts

Born 10 September 1886 at Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan

Died 6 September 1946 at Manhattan, New York County, New York

Delight was the younger of two children born to William Matthews Butts and Kate Champlin Butts. She was raised primarily by her mother at Grand Rapids mostly in the home of her maternal grandparents. The family, including her father, were relocated to Cleveland, Ohio by 1910 where her father was an insurance agent. Kate graduated from Central High School at Grand Rapids; attended Library School at Western Reserve University at Cleveland, Ohio; and graduated from Lake Erie College at Painesville, Ohio with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1912. After graduating, she worked several years with Associated Charities of Cleveland. She relocated to Manhattan about 1920 where she worked with Young Men’s Christian Association and then with Henry Street Settlement on the Lower East Side. She was also associated with New York Veteran’s Bureau and with Protestant Federation. In 1924, Kate was appointed to New York Board of Education as a Visiting Teacher, Department of Ungraded Classes. For several years before her demise, she worked in the Bureau of Child Guidance as a Visiting Teacher in the unit for retarded children. Kate was active in the John More Association and served on the Committee of Memorabilia from 1930 through 1934. Delight never married. Her last known residence was at 19 East 56th Street. She died after a brief illness at Saint Claire’s Hospital in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan. Her remains were interred at Fresh Pond Crematory and Columbarium at Middle Village, New York. Kate was John More Association James line cousin #62212 and was my fourth cousin twice removed.

©2017 Cindy Coffell

Kate Champlin Butts

Born 19 June 1858 at Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan

Died 17 November 1939 at Manhattan, New York County, New York

Kate was the first of three children born to John Wayne Champlin and Ellen More Champlin. She was raised at Grand Rapids where her father was an attorney. Kate graduated in 1876 from St. Agnes Episcopal School at Albany, New York winning a scholarship prize for astronomy. She then attended Art Institute in Chicago, Illinois where she pioneered a new painting style on china. Kate married to William Matthews Butts in October 1883. She attended the first John More Association reunion in 1890. A Doulton chocolate china set painted by Kate was exhibited at the World’s Fair at Chicago in 1893. Kate and William relocated to Cleveland, Ohio about 1906 where her husband was engaged as a general agent with an insurance company. Sometime after 1930 they relocated to Manhattan, New York where Kate died at her home on East 56^th Street after a long illness. Her remains were cremated at Fresh Pond Crematorium, Middle Village, New York. The disposition of her cremains is unknown. Kate and William were the parents of two children, John Champlin Butts and Delight Boise Butts. She is John More Association James line cousin #6221 and my third cousin three times removed. 

©2017 Cindy Coffell

Inez Anna Grimes Bendure

Born 6 December 1889 at Parsons, Labette County, Kansas

Died 29 September 1962 at Parsons, Labette County, Kansas

Inez was the daughter of Nimrod C. Grimes and Emma L. Gamble Grimes. She was raised at Parsons where her father was a railroad laborer. Inez married first to Truman Chamberlain Bidwell on 7 July 1908 at Iola, Kansas. He was a clerk at Hotel Mattewson at Parsons. Inez and Truman made their home at Parsons and were the parents of three daughters; Merle Bernice Bidwell, and twins, Lucille Kathryn Bidwell and Louise Marie Bidwell. He died in 1918 and Inez married next to Harve Leonard Bendure sometime after 1920 and before 1930. He was a brakeman with the Missouri, Kansas, and Jefferson Railroad. They made their home at 2623 Chess Avenue at Parsons and were the parents of one daughter, Ethelyn Bendure, who died at a young age. Inez was buried at OakwoodCemetery at Parsons. She was John More Association cousin #M51421 and the wife of my fourth cousin twice removed, Truman Chamberlain Bidwell.

©2017 Cindy Coffell

Truman Chamberlain Bidwell

Born 7 July 1882 at Neosho Falls, Woodson County, Kansas

Died 22 December 1918 at Parsons, Labette County, Kansas

Truman was the first of six children born to John Wesley Bidwell and Cora Janette Bryan Bidwell. He was raised at Neosho Falls where his father was a merchant. Truman married to Inez Anna Grimes on 7 July 1908 at Iola, Kansas. They made their home at Parsons where he was a clerk at Matthewson Hotel and Matthewson Hotel Cigar Stand and Billiard Parlor. Like millions of people all over the world, he was felled swiftly as a result of the Influenza Pandemic. Truman and Inez were the parents of three children; Merle Bernice Bidwell, and twins, Lucille Kathryn Bidwell and Louise Marie Bidwell. Truman was buried at Oakwood Cemetery at Parsons. He was John More Association cousin #51421 and my fourth cousin twice removed.

*Note-I presume he was named for his paternal grandfather, Truman Chamberlain Bidwell.

©2017 Cindy Coffell