Wells Family - Person Sheet
Wells Family - Person Sheet
NameWilliam Clarence Colwell 
Birth2 Oct 1858, Lafayette, Medina Co, OH
Census14 Jun 1900, Lincoln, Lancaster Co, NE
Memoroll#933, pg 12
Census21 Apr 1910, Elwood, Doniphan Co, KS
Memoroll#437, pg 6
Census3 Feb 1920, Tulsa, Tulsa Co, OK
Memoroll#1486, pg 6
Census4 Apr 1930, Belvedere, Los Angeles Co, CA
Memoroll#167, pg 4
Death10 Nov 1959, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co, CA
BurialLos Angeles Odd Fellows Cem, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co, CA
MemoRev. Albert Camfield
OccupationPortrait Artist
FatherCharles Franklin Colwell (1835-1923)
MotherJennie M. Fenton (1840-1916)
Misc. Notes
He married May Wollett on 5 April 1882 in Des Moines IA. Mr. Colwell was a portrait painter during the 1880-1890 era. His finest work was probably that of William Rockafeller family in Chicago. All were destroyed by fire.
He married (2) Elizabeth DeHollander about 1892, and is listed with her and their son Harry in Lincoln, NE in 1900. He is listed as a portrait artist, married 8 yrs; but it shows his birth date as Oct 1852.
Later he turned to crayon, and watercolor portraits, and still later, after 1910 while living in Kansas with his parents, went into photography, as a better way to earn a living for an ever growing second family. In 1920 he is listed as W. C. Colwell (60, OH) in a boarding house on South Main in Tulsa, OK. It lists his profession as enlarging photos. His wife and children were living not far away in Tulsa.
He is listed with his sister Edith in the 1930 Los Angeles census as married (71, OH), but Elizabeth is not living with him, so they may have separated. Elizabeth died 22 April 1940 and was buried in Ashland Cem, St. Joseph MO.
William C. Colwell was married the third time in 1947 to Mrs. Viola Eastwood, at the age of 89, in Los Angeles, CA.
Lived for a time in Omaha, Neb. and was living in Los Angeles, CA at age 101. Frances Holland says she remembers seeing a white haired old man when the Colwells visited, and thinks it may have been Wm.
He married (2) Elizabeth DeHollander about 1892, and is listed with her and their son Harry in Lincoln, NE in 1900. He is listed as a portrait artist, married 8 yrs; but it shows his birth date as Oct 1852.
Later he turned to crayon, and watercolor portraits, and still later, after 1910 while living in Kansas with his parents, went into photography, as a better way to earn a living for an ever growing second family. In 1920 he is listed as W. C. Colwell (60, OH) in a boarding house on South Main in Tulsa, OK. It lists his profession as enlarging photos. His wife and children were living not far away in Tulsa.
He is listed with his sister Edith in the 1930 Los Angeles census as married (71, OH), but Elizabeth is not living with him, so they may have separated. Elizabeth died 22 April 1940 and was buried in Ashland Cem, St. Joseph MO.
William C. Colwell was married the third time in 1947 to Mrs. Viola Eastwood, at the age of 89, in Los Angeles, CA.
Lived for a time in Omaha, Neb. and was living in Los Angeles, CA at age 101. Frances Holland says she remembers seeing a white haired old man when the Colwells visited, and thinks it may have been Wm.
Spouses
Birth23 Sep 1860, Maidstone on Kent, England
Death14 Mar 1935, St Louis, St Louis Co, MO
Burial16 Mar 1935, Valhalla Cem, Bel-Nor, St Louis Co, MO
MemoPlot 11/123/6
Misc. Notes
Dau of John Woollett (1835-1924) and Katurah Barrow
Woollett family arrived from England in Chicago in 1873.
Listed as May (19, ENG) in the 1880 Des Moines census, with her parents, 4 brothers and 3 sisters. With only the youngest Wilfred (7, WI), Henry (5, IL) and Maud (2, IA) born in the US, all others born in England, with the next youngest being Florence (10, ENG).
LIsted as May on marriage record, and as Mary on daughter Florence's birth cert. After her divorce from William she raised her three daughters alone, living in St. Louis and Festus, Mo. She gave piano lessens, played the organ in her church and worked at a bounding house for men in a shoe factory.
She was married a second time to John W. Davis (Jun 1844 - 24 Jan 1927) on 1 June 1909 in Hillsboro, Jefferson Co, MO.
[Obituary] The St. Louis Star and Times - Friday, 15 March 1935, pg 33
DAVIS. MAY L.
Entered Into rest Thursday. March 14, 1935. dear mother of Mrs. Rhea Dreyer (deceased), and Mrs. Marguerite Harlow, and Mrs. Herbert A. Roes, our dear mother-in-law and grandmother. Remains in state at SHEPARD FUNERAL HOME, 1167 Hamilton avenue, until 12 noon. Saturday, March 16. Funeral same dav at 2:30 p. m , from Christian Old Peoples Home, 6600 Washington avenue. Interment Valhalla Cemetery. Deceased was a member of Rob Morris Chapter No. 328.
Woollett family arrived from England in Chicago in 1873.
Listed as May (19, ENG) in the 1880 Des Moines census, with her parents, 4 brothers and 3 sisters. With only the youngest Wilfred (7, WI), Henry (5, IL) and Maud (2, IA) born in the US, all others born in England, with the next youngest being Florence (10, ENG).
LIsted as May on marriage record, and as Mary on daughter Florence's birth cert. After her divorce from William she raised her three daughters alone, living in St. Louis and Festus, Mo. She gave piano lessens, played the organ in her church and worked at a bounding house for men in a shoe factory.
She was married a second time to John W. Davis (Jun 1844 - 24 Jan 1927) on 1 June 1909 in Hillsboro, Jefferson Co, MO.
[Obituary] The St. Louis Star and Times - Friday, 15 March 1935, pg 33
DAVIS. MAY L.
Entered Into rest Thursday. March 14, 1935. dear mother of Mrs. Rhea Dreyer (deceased), and Mrs. Marguerite Harlow, and Mrs. Herbert A. Roes, our dear mother-in-law and grandmother. Remains in state at SHEPARD FUNERAL HOME, 1167 Hamilton avenue, until 12 noon. Saturday, March 16. Funeral same dav at 2:30 p. m , from Christian Old Peoples Home, 6600 Washington avenue. Interment Valhalla Cemetery. Deceased was a member of Rob Morris Chapter No. 328.
Marriage5 Apr 1882, Des Moines, Polk Co, IA
Separationabt 1892
Birth4 Sep 1869, New York
Death22 Apr 1940, Elwood, Doniphan Co, KS
BurialAshland Cem, Manhattan, Riley Co, KS
Misc. Notes
She was apparently married to a Mr. Van Dana and had children with him in New York, prior to marrying William Colwell.
In 1900, she is listed as having 4 children, but only 1 living - son Harry Colwell who was living with them.
In 1920 she is listed in Tulsa, OK as head of household and a photographer at home (50, NY) with her son Howard J. Van Dana (30, NY) also a photographer, plus Merle, Monette and Omar Colwell. Her husband was renting a room on So. Main St in Tulsa.
She is listed as head of household with her son, Howard J. Van Dana (40, NY), and daughter, Monette Colwell (23, KS) in Los Angeles for the 1930 census. She is listed as married, but her husband is living in Belvedere with siblings Edith and Arthur.
In 1900, she is listed as having 4 children, but only 1 living - son Harry Colwell who was living with them.
In 1920 she is listed in Tulsa, OK as head of household and a photographer at home (50, NY) with her son Howard J. Van Dana (30, NY) also a photographer, plus Merle, Monette and Omar Colwell. Her husband was renting a room on So. Main St in Tulsa.
She is listed as head of household with her son, Howard J. Van Dana (40, NY), and daughter, Monette Colwell (23, KS) in Los Angeles for the 1930 census. She is listed as married, but her husband is living in Belvedere with siblings Edith and Arthur.
Marriageabt 1892
Separationbef 1930, Los Angeles Co, CA