Marion Chatfield & William Tarter

FAMILY LINE AND HISTORY

Marion Hortense Chatfield
2nd of 5 children of Elmer Ellsworth Chatfield & Della Chatfield
Born: Feb 25, 1896, Two Lakes near Ten Sleep, Big Horn Co., Wyoming
Died: Jun 18, 1980 (age 84), Angwin, Napa Co., California; cancer, congestive heart failure
Buried: St. Helena Cemetery in St. Helena, Napa Co., California
Married: 1934, William Perry Tarter, Rock Springs, Sweetwater Co., Wyoming
Divorced: about 1941
Three children: Helen Marie Tarter, Margaret Eloise Tarter, Clark Delmer Tarter

William Perry Tarter
Parents unknown: William was one of 12 children, half of whom were placed in a Kentucky orphanage
Born: Oct 23, 1907, Somerset, Pulaski Co., Kentucky
Died: Apr 8, 1962 (age 54), Mt. Vernon, Skagit Co., Washington; prostate cancer, heart disease
Buried: Apr 13, 1962, Hawthorne Lawn Cemetery in Mt. Vernon, Skagit Co., Washington
Married: 1934, Marion Hortense Chatfield, Rock Springs, Sweetwater Co., Wyoming
Divorced: about 1941; William walked out on Marion when their three children were quite young
Occupation: Restaurant cook, farmhand, worked for mining company
Three children: Helen Marie Tarter, Margaret Eloise Tarter, Clark Delmer Tarter

1. Helen Marie Tarter
Born: Jan 31, 1935, Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California
Died: Dec 8, 1983 (age 48), Napa, Napa Co., California; brain aneurysm
Buried: St. Helena Cemetery in St. Helena, Napa Co., California
Occupation: Caregiver
Married (1): 1954, Louis James Knight, St. Helena, Napa Co., California
Divorced (1): bef 1960, Napa Co., California
Married (2): 1960, Cecil Emmett “Jack” Doke, Fresno, California or Reno (bigamist)
Divorced (2): Jan 1968, Napa Co., California
Three children: Robert Clark Doke, Teresa Marie Doke, David Bryan Doke
Married (3): 1969, William H. Hyatt
Divorced (3): Mar 1971, William H. Hyatt, Solano Co., California

2. Margaret Eloise Tarter
Born: Dec 26, 1936, Reno, Washoe Co., Nevada
Died: Dec 23?, 2019 (age 82), Napa, Napa Co., California; alcohol-related
Cremated: Ashes with family
Occupation: Caregiver, ran a rest home in Middletown, Lake Co., California
Married: Apr 2, 1960, Richard Leon Thomas, Reno, Washoe Co., Nevada
Divorced: Nov 1975, Napa Co,, California
Four children: Kathryn Marie Thomas, Karen Colleen Thomas, Kristen Helen Thomas, Richard Kent Thomas

3. Clark Delmer Tarter
Born: Aug 5, 1938, Grass Valley, Nevada Co., California
Occupation: Sold irrigation pipe (Napa Valley, California), heavy equip work, installing oil/gas pipelines
Married: Nov 14, 1964, Pamela Diane Stevenson, Angwin, Napa Co., California
Four children: Shaen Chatfield Tarter, Craig Mitchell Tarter, Michele Le Verne Tarter (identical twin), Marie Louise Tarter (identical twin)

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Timeline and Records

Five children of Elmer Ellsworth Chatfield & Della Chatfield:
1. Helen Layle Chatfield
1894 – 1975 (m. Rudolph Oscar Hornburg)
2. Marion Hortense Chatfield
1896 – 1980 (m. William Perry Tarter)
3. Sevilla Maude/Shirley Chatfield
1898 – 1981 (m. Fred Chester Sproul)
4. Audrey Ella Chatfield
1900 – 2000 (m. Joseph Anthony “Joe” Bodan)
5. Constance Cordelia “Babe/Connie” Chatfield
1905 – 1990 (m. Forest Wayne “Frosty” Rosenberry)

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Feb 15, 1894: Birth of Helen Layle Chatfield, 1st child of Elmer & Della Chatfield, in Emma, Pitkin Co., Colorado

Feb 25, 1896: Birth of Marion Hortense Chatfield, 2nd child of Elmer & Della Chatfield, in Spring Creek, Big Horn Co., Wyoming

Oct 18, 1898: Birth of Sevilla Maude Chatfield, 3rd child of Elmer and Della Chatfield, in Spring Creek, Big Horn Co., Wyoming

Nov 22, 1898: Letter from Elmer Chatfield to Mary (Mollie) Chatfield, (Della’s mother, his aunt):
Buffalo, Wyoming, Nov 22, 1898
My Dear Mother–
Dell started this letter so I will finish it.
Aunt Mollie, you do not know how near I came to killing Dell and the Babies day before yesterday, while coming down that infernal hill to Buffalo.
I had my sheep wagon & Dell & the Babies were back on the brd (buckboard). In the first place I rough locked the wagon and then chained a big pine tree to the hind end and started, when about ½ the way down my wagon started to push my horses and I could see they could not hold it. So away we went as I come to the turn my wagon slued off and we run about 25 yds on the edge of the road & then over we went down the mountain. When I came to I was laying under the wagon box with the corner of the box resting on my head. I knew where I was in a minute & the first thing I thought of was Dell & the Babies. I hollered to Dell but not a sound did I get except from Toady Bull a little girl Dell had with her to help take care of the children who said, “for God sakes Mr. Chatfield get me out.”
Well now mind you I was pinned underneath the wagon box but there was a little space in front by the dashboard so I undertook to crawl out but my over coat & clothes was to bulky to let me out so I had to work my coat off & I can safely say for once I crawled through an auger hole.
When I got out and took in the surroundings my horses was about 30 feet away and entirely loose from the wagon & wagon bottom side up & the wheels & running gear on top the box.
I hollered again to Dell but not a sound. If there is a man in the world suffered as I did that minute God pity him.
When I undertook to turn that wagon over it was impossible. My only salvation was to cut them out so at it I went. The first slash I came very near cutting Toady’s head. I got her out all O.K. & then kept cutting & digging at last I struck Dell all covered up in the bedding & hay. I asked her if she was hurt & where the children was. She says I am not hurt & Helen is right here by me & the Baby is under me. I got the Baby out first & then Helen. Dell says “My God what will we do I am afraid poor little Marion is dead”.
Well I pulled Dell out & started for Marion. As last I found her entirely wrapped up in one on the Feather Beds and not a scratch. I don’t think I ever was quite as happy as when they were all loaded safe & sound.
A Mr. Kinney happened along at the time & rendered me a great deal of assistance & so ends the first chapter.
All send love. Dell is taking care of the Baby and can’t write.
Your Nephew,
Elmer
P.S. Tell old Art to come up and we will have good hunt in the Bad Lands.

Note: Elmer (age 34), Dell (age 25), Helen (4 yrs, 9 mo), Marion (2 yrs, 9 mo), Sevilla (1 mo); Old Art is Arthur, Dell’s younger brother. Unable to identify anyone in the photo, though assuming the woman is Dell.

Jun 15, 1900: Federal Census for Spring Creek, Big Horn Co., Wyoming:
Chatfield, Elmer: Head, born Jun 1863, age 36, married 7 years, born Colorado, father born Illinois, mother born Illinois, farmer, 82 farm animals
Note: 3 others listed in household, 2 farm laborers and a housekeeper
Note: Della (5 months pregnant with their 4th child, Audrey) and their daughters, Helen, Marion, and Sevilla are not listed as they are visiting Dell’s mother and father in Mary (Morrow) and Clark Samuel Chatfield at their ranch in Basalt, Eagle Co., Colorado.

Jun 23, 1900: Basalt Journal, Basalt, Eagle Co., Colorado (pg 3):
LOCAL NEWS.
Mrs. E.E. Chatfield, a guest of Mr. and Mrs. C.S. Chatfield, returned to her home in Big Horn Basin, Wyoming, on Wednesday, after a visit of several weeks at Basalt.
Note: Mrs. E.E. Chatfield (wife of Elmer Chatfield and pregnant with Audrey, her 4th child) is Della Chatfield, the daughter of Mary (Morrow) Chatfield.

Nov 27, 1900: Birth of Audrey Ella Chatfield, 4th child of Elmer and Della Chatfield, in Spring Creek, Big Horn Co., Wyoming

Dec 18, 1905: Birth of Constance Cordelia “Babe/Connie” Cordelia Chatfield, 5th child of Elmer and Della Chatfield, in Basin, Big Horn Co., Wyoming

Elmer & Della Chatfield History, by Beverly (Sproul) Kelly:
Little is known of the years before their marriage, though Elmer was able to finance the purchase of a ranch in the Big Horns on Spring Creek in 1893. In 1895, he, Della, and daughter Helen began the trek north by covered wagon. Life on that mountain before the turn of the century was a primitive existence—miles to the nearest neighbors, water was hauled from the creek for household use, cutting and chopping wood was hard labor, there were only wood burning ranges and pot-bellied stoves. Transportation was team and wagon or saddle horse. Twice a year Elmer made the trip to Casper with the supply wagons for food staples, clothing, leather goods, and tools. But the family, by now five daughters, defied those hardships and remained on that ranch until 1914. Elmer sold out to Taylor Bros. (Dave and George) and bought acreage north of Worland to establish a farming/livestock operation.

Mar 6, 1906: Death of Clark Samuel “C.S.” Chatfield, Sr. (age 68), father of Della Chatfield and grandfather of Marion, of Bright’s disease and acute uremia.

Clark is a resident of Basalt, Eagle Co., Colorado but dies in Princeton, Colusa Co., California while staying for several months with his daughter Jacquelin (Chatfield) Mallon. Clark is buried in the Princeton Cemetery in Princeton, California.

Spring Creek, Big Horn Co., Wyoming; circa August of 1906
On the back of this picture is handwritten: “Uncle Elmer’s ranch above Tensleep”
Note: Elmer Ellsworth Chatfield, Charles Henry Chatfield, and Jacquelin (Chatfield) Adams are siblings; pictured are 13 of their combined offspring (ages approximate):
Helen, Marion Chatfield, Charles, Sevilla, Marion Adams, Leo, Howard, Roy, Kathryn, Nella May, family dog, Audrey holding two babies, Gordon and/or Constance
Helen Layle Chatfield: born Feb 15, 1894 (age 12), daughter of Elmer & Della
Marion Hortense Chatfield: born Feb 25, 1896 (age 10), daughter of Elmer & Della
Charles Joseph Chatfield: born Nov 18, 1895 (age 9) Charles & Nellie, son
Sevilla Maude Chatfield: born Oct 18, 1898 (age 7), daughter of Elmer & Della
Marion Jacqueline Adams: born Apr 24, 1898 (age 8), daughter of Jacquelin & Fred
Leo Willard Chatfield: born Oct 23, 1897 (age 8), son of Charles & Nellie
Howard Francis Chatfield: born Jun 13, 1899 (age 7), son of Charles & Nellie
Roy Elmer Chatfield: born Mar 20, 1901 (age 5), son of Charles & Nellie
Kathryn “Kate” Adams: born Jan 31, 1903 (age 3), daughter of Jacquelin & Fred
Nella Mae Chatfield: born Mar 11, 1903 (age 3), daughter of Charles & Nellie
black dog
Audrey Ella Chatfield: born Nov 27, 1900 (age 5), daughter of Elmer & Della
2 babies (note: assuming Gordon is on the left and Constance is on the right):
Gordon Gregory Chatfield: born Dec 20, 1905 (8 mo), son of Charles & Nellie
Constance Cordelia Chatfield: born Dec 18, 1905 (8 mo), daughter of Elmer & Della

May 9, 1910: Federal Census for Spring Creek, Big Horn Co., Wyoming:
Chatfield, Elmer E.: Head, age 47, married 1 for 17 years, born Colorado, father born Illinois, mother born Illinois, occupation stock grower on range
Della: wife, age 36, married 1 for 17 years, 5 children born, 5 living, born Nebraska, father born Illinois, mother born Missouri
Helen L.: daughter, age 16, born Colorado, father born Colorado, mother born Nebraska
Marion H.: daughter, age 14, born Wyoming, father born Colorado, mother born Nebraska
Sevilla M.: daughter, age 11, born Wyoming, father born Colorado, mother born Nebraska
Audrey E.: daughter, age 9, born Wyoming, father born Colorado, mother born Nebraska
Constance C.: daughter, age 4, born Wyoming, father born Colorado, mother born Nebraska

Circa 1910 Postcard: Elmer & Dell’s five daughters at the ranch near Ten Sleep: Audrey, Marion, Helen, Sevilla, Constance “Babe”:

Circa 1910 Postcard taken at the same time; four older daughters Marion, Helen, Sevilla, Audrey:

Dec 29, 1911: Big Horn County Rustler, Basin, Big Horn Co., Wyoming (pg 9):
Mr. Elmer Chatfield returned on Friday from Omaha, where he had been with a shipment of sheep. At Billings he was joined by his two daughters, Misses Helen and Marion, who accompanied him as far as Basin, where he remained until the next day, while they proceeded to the ranch above Tensleep.

1911 and 1912: Helen and Marion Chatfield is attending Billings Polytechnic Institute in Billings, Yellowstone Co., Montana. Helen corresponds with her friend in her hometown of Tensleep, Boyd Mills. The following postcards, letters, and group photos were contributed by Terril Mills.

Mar 13, 1912: Letter from Milo Mills to his brother Boyd, friends of the Chatfield sisters:
Ten Sleep, Wyoming
March 3^rd, 1912
My dear brother,
I was over to “Chattie’s” Sunday P.M. and Sunday night tell 12:20 but did not get to be alone with H.P. over two or three minutes at a time. Great isn’t it. A fellow has a dandy time over there and the old folks treat me dandy but I don’t think that there will be any developments of serious character for chances are something you never get. You know you said in your letter for me to put it off till I come home. I don’t think that you need worry about this for I have just about made up my mind that it is foolishness to advance to far in the game. Helen and Marion (Chatfield) were here today. They were sure sweet looking. We have been having lots of fun down here lately. It would take too much time to tell you all about it in a letter so will wait till I get home and then I will admit nothing. Most of it has been jobbing each other. Van’s have been doing most of it. When I went to Chattie’s Sunday I couldn’t find my saddle. The kids had hidden it so that I pounced onto Lewis’s saddle. I certainly liked Lewis. We clicked together on most everything. Lewis is going to try and take Sevilla from Harold Friday night at the dance. I believe that he will make it stick alright too. Harold stood back and Lewis took the lead when us kids were all over at Chattie’s. Two weeks ago last Sunday Helen and Sevilla will be on the ranch with the old man next summer alone part of the time.

Write as soon as you can and tell me all the news. I am your brother, Milo Mills, Ten Sleep, Wyoming.
Note: The envelope was addressed to Boyd C. Mills, Fort Logan, Colo. in care of Army Y.M.C.A from Milo Mills, Ten Sleep, Wyoming

Apr 7, 1916: Worland Grit, Worland, Washakie Co., Wyoming (pg 5):
Misses Helen and Marion Chatfield who have been attending the Wesleyan University at Lincoln, Neb., for the past year, returned home last Thursday. They say there is no place like good old Wyoming.

On Jan 17, 1918: Helen’s grandfather, Isaac Willard Chatfield writes a letter to Marion’s sister, Sevilla; in it he pens:
“I was pleased to hear that Hellen and Marian was going to the Polytechnic at Billings. It will improve their mind and knowledge very much in a business way.”

Family History by Beverly (Sproul) Kelly, granddaughter of Elmer Chatfield:
Marion and Helen, just two years apart in age, became inseparable—shown here as school girls. They attended the Billings Polytechnic together—then a design school in Omaha, Nebraska. Both were talented seamstresses.

Sep 25, 1919: Worland Grit, Worland, Washakie Co., Wyoming (pg 1):
On last Saturday evening at the Masonic Hall took place the Surveyors’ Ball. It was without a doubt the most successful affair ever given for the young people of the town.
The hall was tastefully arranged for the affair and over fifty guests tripped the light “fantastic” to the strains of the famous Thermopolis Orchestra. Carried away by the music and the delicious punch the guests danced past the hour of midnight, when they departed wishing that the surveyors might make Worland their headquarters at some future date. The invited guests of Messers. Bond, Douglas, Riley and Krewer were … Marion Chatfield, Irene Long, Helen Chatfield and Sevilla Chatfield…

Oct 31, 1919: Death of Della Chatfield (age 47), mother of Marion, on Halloween night, from cancer, at her home in Worland, Washakie Co., Wyoming. Her four older daughters are in their 20s, the youngest, Babe, is 14.
Note: Some family members recollect that Dell died from breast cancer—others, uterine or ovarian cancer.

Nov 4, 1919: Della is buried in the Riverview Cemetery in Worland, Washakie Co., Wyoming

Nov 6, 1919: Worland Grit, Worland, Washakie Co., Wyoming (pg 1):
Della B. Chatfield, wife of Elmer E Chatfield, a well known stockman and farmer of this section, died at their home north of the City last Friday evening. She had just recently returned from the hospital at Rochester, Minn. and the community held hope the end was not so near. Besides her husband she leaves five daughters, Helen, Marion, Sevilla, Audrey and Babe all residing at home. Funeral services were held at the home last Monday afternoon, the services being in charge of the Rev. William Gorst.

Jan 24-26, 1920: Federal Census for Election Precinct 4, Washakie Co., Wyoming:
Chatfield, Elmer E.: Head, age 56, widow, born Colorado, father born Illinois, mother born Illinois, farmer
Helen L.: daughter, age 25, born Colorado, father born Colorado, mother born Nebraska
Marion H.: daughter, age 23, born Colorado, father born Colorado, mother born Nebraska
Sevilla M.: daughter, age 21, born Wyoming, father born Colorado, mother born Nebraska
Audrey E.: daughter, age 19, born Wyoming, father born Colorado, mother born Nebraska
Constance C.: daughter, age 15, born Wyoming, father born Colorado, mother born Nebraska

Dec 23, 1920: Worland Grit, Worland, Washakie Co., Wyoming (pg 1):
Worland High School Notes
We enjoyed three visitors Thursday December 16th, who were: Miss Fern Laird, Miss Marion Chatfield and Miss Audrey Chatfield.
Rexall Prize Contest Closes Friday Night
Who will win? The Rexall Store Diamond Ring Contest closes Friday night at midnight, and there will be five happy girls. The first prize will be a diamond ring, the second a gold wrist watch, the third a pearl necklace, fourth an ivory toilet set, and fifth an ivory manicure set. As we go to press Miss Pearl Denton is leading, with Catherine Howell, Velma Moncrief, Ida Reilly, Mildred Campbell, Marjorie Picard, Oneita, Peterson, Lanorma Early, Margaret McClellan, Frances Folck, Ruth Millard, Grace Chance and Constance Chatfield following closely.

1923-24: Elmer Chatfield loses his ranch due to the flooding of the Big Horn River. Everything is gone, including the wagons with the turkey’s roosting in them, floating away. In late 1923 or early 1924 Elmer and daughters Helen, Marion and Audrey move to Texas. He farms river-bottom land between Harlingen and Brownsville, Cameron County. His youngest daughter, “Babe”, stays behind in Basin, Wyoming (with beekeepers) to work for her room and board and finish high school. Sevilla is married and living in Manderson, Wyoming.

Letter from Beverly (Sproul) Kelly (Elmer’s granddaughter):
Grandpa went down to the Rio Grande valley to grow cotton. The river-bottom land just below the ranch north of Worland had been flooded out in 1921 or 1922 and he was desperate to start over somewhere. He took the whole family (Helen, Marion, and Audrey) except for Babe who had not finished H.S., and Dad, Mother (Sevilla), Elmer and Freddie who had moved back into the banking business. He made arrangements in Basin to work for Babe’s room and board while she was going to school. When she finished her senior year in Basin, she went on to Texas, too. How she got there, I don’t know, probably by rail, but there was no family member attending her graduation and it was always a sad memory to her. Dad, Mother, and family did not join the clan until January of 1925.

In doing the math, Gramps must have had two good years because the flood did not destroy the crop til harvest time, 1925. Dad knew there were too many mouths to feed on no income, so hi-tailed it back to the Big Horn Basin to get enough money together to send for Mother (Sevilla), the boys, and me. It took five months of punching cows and ranching chores to earn enough to pay for our train fares back to Wyoming. Dad had never seen me (I hadn’t been born ’til after he left), and he picked me up to hold me over his head and Mother said I took one look into that cavernous mouth and ‘screamed bloody murder’. I got used to it eventually, I guess.
B.S.K.

Mar 16, 1930: Casper Star-Tribune, Casper, Natrona Co., Wyoming (pg 17):

1934: Marriage of Marion Hortense Chatfield & William Perry Tarter in Rock Springs, Sweetwater Co., Wyoming
Note: Marion (age 38) is the 2nd child of Elmer & Della Chatfield. William is age 27, 11 years younger than Marion

AS I WAS TOLD: When his daughter Marion married, Elmer was kind of at sea. During the springs he stayed on the Montgomery ranch in Manderson, Wyoming. He worked on the ranch with sheep and always had a potato patch. When he’d leave to visit one of his daughters, he always said, “If I don’t get back, the mules yours. He rotated between three of his daughters, Audrey Bodan (in Wyoming), Constance Rosenberry (in Nevada and Utah) and Sevilla Sproul (in California, New Mexico, and Colorado). —Beverley (Sproul) Kelly, granddaughter of Elmer Chatfield.

Jan 31, 1935: Birth of Helen Marie Tarter, 1st of 3 children of Marion Hortense Chatfield & William Perry Tarter, in Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California

Dec 26, 1936: Birth of Margaret Eloise Tarter, 2nd of 3 children of Marion Hortense Chatfield & William Perry Tarter, in Reno, Washoe Co., Nevada

Aug 5, 1938: Birth of Clark Delmer Tarter, 3rd of 3 children of Marion Hortense Chatfield & William Perry Tarter, in Grass Valley, Nevada Co., California

AS I WAS TOLD:
Marion married a William P. Tarter in 1934 at Rock Springs, Wyoming. Grandpa probably had met him, but I don’t think any of the rest of the family had ever seen him. I never heard Mother and her younger sister Audrey ever discuss her marriage. Marion did send pictures of the children when they were little—beautiful little folks.
Marion was very religious—belonged to the 7th Day Adventist there in St. Helena. Helen (Marion’s daughter) was with us (the Sproul family in Wyoming) during her seventh year for a whole year, then again for the summer when she was fifteen. The Adventists do not eat meat, but she certainly enjoyed our menu as stockgrowers. Helen had a good-looking boyfriend (a prominent family’s son) and had a great relationship with her peers. She wanted to stay to go to school, but Marion (her mother) wouldn’t let her, probably thought a Catholic household unacceptable (Sevilla’s husband George was Catholic). I don’t know, but her girls certainly made poor marriage choices. Clark’s wife Pam is his soul mate and their children and grandchildren are delightful good-looking folks.

The pix at the Mallon ranch show both the Bodan families and Marion and her young folks. Emerson looked exactly like Joe, but had Audrey’s disposition (good humor, sweet disposition)—died at age 61 of multiple myeloma, (five months from diagnosis to death).
—Beverly (Sproul) Kelly, granddaughter of Elmer and Della Chatfield.

Note: Marion needed help, so for a year her three young children stayed with her sisters; Helen stayed with Sevilla and Fred Sproul (in Worland, Wyoming), Clark stayed with Audrey and Joe Bodan (probably in Lander, Wyoming), and Margaret stayed with Babe and Forrest Rosenberry (probably in Reno).

Summer 1939, Chico, California: Hardly anyone remembers my grandfather, but the granddaughter of his older brother Elmer, Beverly Sproul, recalls meeting him in the summer of 1939 when she and her family stopped in Chico on a month-long road trip from Wyoming. For some reason, Grandma turned away at her brother-in-law’s greeting—but Nellie seldom hid her opinion of the sins she held against others. If she didn’t like someone—or anyone related to that someone—if there was some offense, some fault, some fatal flaw, you simply weren’t welcome in her home.

Grandpa and Elmer hadn’t seen each other in years and they had a lot of catching up to do. The brothers wandered into the back yard. Grandpa showed off his chickens and his garden, bending to pull a weed as they chattered on. They talked of their children, of Ella and Callie, their sisters whom Grandpa hadn’t seen in forty years either. Elmer had just come through Globe and Superior, Arizona, where their two widowed sisters lived. Ella was so taken—she hadn’t seen her brother for forty years. Elmer was not a big man to begin with, and Ella was smaller still. She leaned her head against her younger brother’s chest and sighed “oh El.” Her lids hung over her eyes and she had them taped up so she could see. They stayed in Arizona a couple of days. Beverly remembers Ella walking by her collection of lead crystal on the buffet, Ella flicking them with her finger to listen to it ping. That’s how you tell it is crystal.

They conversed about Elmer’s ranch in Wyoming, the price of sheep and cattle, what rice farming was like in California. In the meantime, Elmer’s daughter Sevilla and her thirteen-year-old girl Beverly sat on the porch with Nellie. Sitting stiffly in her slide rocker facing her husband’s kin, arms cemented across her chest, feet lodged on the floor, her glare piercing through them, Nellie’s starched skin scratched the air—not a word escaping from her mouth. She had nothing against them in particular. They just happened to be related to Elmer and were paying for whatever offense he may have committed, which simply may have been that he was related to her husband. They didn’t stay long, and it was their one and only visit.

They went onto Jim and Jacquelin Mallon’s place for a big family reunion at their ranch in Orland. Jacqueline was almost six foot, which was extraordinarily tall for a Chatfield. The reunion was only an hour from Chico. Thirty of the Chatfield cousins from the area were there. Most of them were there, all except Nellie and Charlie.

Elmer and his family looped over to Southern California to see Elliott and Sophie Shaw, then stayed with family in Los Angeles who took them out to the horse ranch to see Sea Biscuit—who’d been put to pasture by this time—but was still beautiful. Then they drove their four-door robin blue 1939 Lincoln Zephyr to Santa Monica to see his youngest sister Calla who was also a widow, and her children Jane and Bob. She lived with her gorgeous grey Persian cat that stayed up on the mantle.

From there, the three of them headed out looking for Marion, Elmer’s daughter who had disappeared from the family some years before. They drove through town after town, through Grass Valley and Placerville and never were able to find her. They decided she didn’t want to be found. Her husband had walked out on her and she and her three small vanished and were out of touch with the family. Elmer returned to Wyoming and never saw any of his brothers and sisters again.

May 4, 1940: Federal Census for Amador Co., California:
Tarter, William P: head, male, white, born Kentucky, married, age 39, rents, high school 2nd yr, not employed
Marion: wife, female, white, born Wyoming, married, age 343, rents, high school 2nd yr, not employed
Helen M: daughter, female, white, age 5, born California
Margaret E: daughter, female, white, age 3, born Nevada
Clark D: son, male, white, age 1, born California

Oct 27, 1940: WWII Registration Card:
Name: William Perry Tarter
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 33
Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
Birth Date: 23 Oct 1907
Birth Place: Sommerset, Kentucky, USA
Residence Place: Pine Grove, Amador, California, USA
Registration Date: 27 Oct 1940
Registration Place: Pine Grove, Amador, California, USA
Employer: Gwalia Mining Co
Weight: 142
Complexion: Ruddy
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Brown
Height: 5 8
Next of Kin: Marion Tarter

Jul 25, 1942: World War II Army Enlistment Records:
Name: William P Tarter
Birth Year: 1907
Race: White, citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country: Texas
State of Residence: Texas
County or City: Johnson
Enlistment Date: 25 Jul 1942
Enlistment State: Texas
Enlistment City: Dallas
Branch: Branch Immaterial – Warrant Officers, USA
Grade: Private
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Source: Civil Life
Education: Grammar school
Civil Occupation: General farmers
Marital status: Divorced, without dependents
Height: 69
Weight: 146

Apr 8, 1962: Death of William Perry Tarter (age 54), in Mt. Vernon, Skagit Co., Washington; prostate cancer, heart disease

Apr 13, 1962: Burial of William Perry Tarter in Hawthorne Lawn Cemetery, Mt. Vernon, Skagit Co., Washington

Sep 20, 1962: Death of Elmer Ellsworth Chatfield (age 99), father of Marion, at the Pioneer Home in Thermopolis, Hot Springs Co., Wyoming. Elmer suffered terribly from head shingles which contributed to his death. Elmer is buried with his wife Della in the Riverview Cemetery in Worland, Washakie Co., Wyoming
Note: Shingles are an acute viral infection characterized by inflammation of the sensory ganglia of certain spinal or cranial nerves and the eruption of vesicles along the affected nerve path.

Sep 22, 1962: Worland, Washakie Co., Wyoming:
Chatfield Rites Set for Monday at Veile Chapel
Funeral services for prominent area livestock man Elmer E. Chatfield, 99, will be held at the Veile Chapel in Worland, with the Rev. R.F. Goff officiating.
Chatfield died Thursday at the Pioneer Home in Thermopolis.
He was born July 8, 1863, the son of Isaac W. and Eliza H. Chatfield in Florence, Colo., and grew up in and around Denver. In 1892 he married Della Chatfield and in 1893 moved to the Spring creek area. One of the Big Horn Basin’s real old time livestock men, he worked in the cattle business in the area until his retirement in the 1940s. In 1883 and 1884, he worked with trail herd crews moving castle from Abilene, Texas to Dodge City, Kansas and shortly before coming to Wyoming, he worked in and around the Colorado mining boom towns.
Surviving are five daughters, Mrs. R.O. Hornburg, Refugio, Texas, Mrs. Marian Tarter, Angwin, Calif., Mrs. Fred Sproul, Anaheim, Calif., Mrs. Joe Bodan, Lander, Mrs. Forest Rosenberry, Alamogordo, N.M., 12 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.

Family History by Beverly (Sproul) Kelly, granddaughter of Elmer Chatfield: When Helen chose to marry and stay in Texas, Marion returned to Wyoming with the rest of the clan. She remained Elmer’s (her father) housekeeper until she was 38 years old—then married a man unknown to the family, Wm. P. Tarter at Rock Springs, Wyoming, Together they had three children, all born in California. The picture at right is the only one of them in one photo. Tarter walked out on them shortly after Clark was born, and he never returned. Marion became a Seventh-Day-Adventist at Angwin, California, where she raised the children by herself.

Constance Cordelia “Babe”(Chatfield) Rosenberry (age 65)
Audrey Ella (Chatfield) Bodan (age 70)
Sevilla Maude/Shirley (Chatfield) Sproul (age 72)
Marion Hortense (Chatfield) Tarter (age 74)
Helen Layle (Chatfield) Hornburg (age 76)

Dec 26, 1975: Death of Helen Layle (Chatfield) Hornburg (age 81), sister of Marion Hortense (Chatfield) Tarter, in Refugio, Refugio Co., Texas; of respiratory arrest, arteriosclerosis, and congestive failure. Helen is buried in the Oakwood Cemetery in Refugio.

Oct 1976: Oakland, California, picture of three Chatfield sisters and their cousins Neva Aubin and Marjorie Tuck:
Marion (Chatfield) Tarter Hyatt (daughter of Elmer & Della Chatfield)
Neva (Mallon) Aubin (daughter of Jacquelin Chatfield & James Mallon)
Marjorie (Chatfield) Tuck (daughter of Clark Samuel Chatfield, Sr. & Mary Elizabeth Morrow)
Audrey (Chatfield) Bodan (daughter of Elmer & Della Chatfield)
Constance (Chatfield) Rosenberry (daughter of Elmer & Della Chatfield)

Jun 18, 1980: Death of Marion Hortense (Chatfield) Tarter (age 84), 2nd of 5 children of Elmer Ellsworth Chatfield & Della Chatfield, in Angwin, Napa Co., California; cancer, congestive heart failure. Marion is buried in the St. Helena Cemetery in Angwin.

Mar 30, 1981: Death of Sevilla Maude/Shirley (Chatfield) Sproul (age 81), sister of Marion Hortense (Chatfield) Tarter, in San Marcos, San Diego Co., California; heart attack. Sevilla is buried in the Eternal Hills Cemetery in Oceanside, San Diego Co., California.

Dec 8, 1983: Death of Helen Marie (Tarter) Hyatt (age 48), 1st of 3 children of William Perry Tarter and Marion Hortense Chatfield, in Napa, Napa Co., California; brain aneurysm. Helen is buried in the St. Helena Cemetery in St. Helena, Napa Co., California

1990: Death of Constance Cordelia (Chatfield) Rosenberry (age 84), sister of Marion Hortense (Chatfield) Tarter, in Fairfield, Solano Co., California; complications from diabetes. Constance is buried in St. Alphonsus Catholic Cemetery in Fairfield.

Jan 31, 2000: Death of Audrey Ella (Chatfield) Bodan (age 99), sister of Marion Hortense (Chatfield) Tarter, near Jackson, Teton Co., Wyoming; stroke. Audrey’s cremains are in the Riverview Cemetery in Worland, Washakie Co., Wyoming.

Of the five Chatfield sisters, Helen died first, then Marion, then Sevilla. When Audrey was notified of Sevilla’s death, she said, “I guess I’m next.” Not so —she survived them all (Constance died in 1990), nearly reaching the century mark—ninety-nine years, 2 months.—Beverly Kelly, daughter of Sevilla.

2019: Death of Margaret Eloise (Tarter) Thomas (age 82), 2nd of 3 children of William Perry Tarter and Marion Hortense Chatfield, in California. Margaret’s ashes are with family.

2020. Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau.