Ada Chamberlin & Edward Whitaker

FAMILY LINE AND HISTORY

Ada Agnes Chamberlin
3rd of 6 children of Finley McLaren “Frank” Chamberlin & Emily S. Hoy
Born: Nov 6, 1877, Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., Texas
Died: Jul 15, 1960 (age 82), Baker, Baker Co., Oregon; pneumonia
Buried: Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker, Baker Co., Oregon
Occupation: proofreader for Democrat-Herald, laundry night shift, calendar company
Married (1): early 1898, William James “Doc” Chambers, Colorado
Annulled: 1899, Teller Co., Colorado
Divorced: Nov 22, 1899, Teller Co. (El Paso Co.), Colorado
One child: Howard James Chambers
Married (2): Apr 22, 1902, Edward Lawrence “Ed” Whitaker, Grand Junction, Mesa Co., Colorado
Seven children: Vera Stanislaus Whitaker, Leonard Fenley Whitaker, Zelda Beatrice Whitaker, Donald Edward Whitaker, Melvin Lawrence Whitaker, Thelma Marie Whitaker, Edward Joseph Whitaker

Edward Lawrence “Ed” Whitaker
4th of 5 children of Frederick Lucius “Fred” Whitaker & Nancy Irena “Irene” Wakefield
Born: Jul 4, 1874, Pardee, Atchison Co., Kansas
Died: May 26, 1915 (age 40), Spokane, Spokane Co., Washington; cancerous mouth tumor
Buried: Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker, Baker Co., Oregon
Occupation: Gold and placer miner
Married: Apr 22, 1902, Ada Agnes (Chamberlin) Chambers, Grand Junction, Mesa Co., Colorado
Seven children: Vera Stanislaus Whitaker, Leonard Fenley Whitaker, Zelda Beatrice Whitaker, Donald Edward Whitaker, Melvin Lawrence Whitaker, Thelma Marie Whitaker, Edward Joseph Whitaker

1. Vera Stanislaus Whitaker
Born: Aug 11, 1903, Baker (or Paddy Creek), Baker Co., Oregon
Died: Aug 27, 1983 (age 80), Gearhart, Clatsop Co., Oregon
Buried: Ocean View Cemetery in Warrenton, Clatsop Co., Oregon
Occupation: Clerk in Fred Meyer Department Store, Portland, Oregon, bookkeeper for Seaside Television Service
Married (1): May 16, 1923, Harold Eaton Wright, Baker, Baker Co., Oregon
Divorced: abt 1937, Baker, Baker Co., Oregon
Four children: Mary Jacqueline “Jackie” Wright, Neva Marie Wright, Thomas L. “Tom” Wright, Claudette Agnes “Claudia” Wright
Married (2): May 10, 1943 (registration), Russell Lloyd Cahill, Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon
Divorced: abt 1943 (after shooting Vera in a fit of jealously), Seaside, Clatsop Co., Oregon
No children
Married (3): Sep 30, 1947, Herman Gene Gillett, Seaside, Clatsop Co., Oregon
No children

2. Leonard Fenley “Len” Whitaker
Born: Feb 7, 1905, Baker (or Paddy Creek), Baker Co., Oregon
Died: Sep 17, 1965 (age 60), Roseburg, Douglas Co., Oregon; heart attack
Buried: Canyonville Cemetery in Canyonville, Douglas Co., Oregon
Occupation: Logging company truck driver, road/highway paving crewman
Married: 1928, Marguerite Eveline “Margie” Snyder, Douglas Co., Oregon
No children

3. Zelda Beatrice Whitaker
Born: Apr 19, 1907, Baker (or Paddy Creek), Baker Co., Oregon
Died: Sep 2, 1989 (age 82), Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon; heart failure
Buried: Mount Calvary Cemetery in Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon
Occupation: Clerk at City of Portland Water Department
Married: May 18, 1931, Robert Tran Alfrey, Klamath Falls, Klamath Co., Oregon
Three children: Ardis Marie Alfrey, Barbara Ann “Bobbie” Alfrey, Mary Ellen Alfrey

4. Donald Edward “Don” Whitaker (born Donald Lincoln Whitaker)
Born: Feb 12, 1909, Baker (Paddy Creek), Baker Co., Oregon
Died: May 1, 1995 (age 86), Santa Paula, Ventura Co., California; emphysema, lung cancer
Buried: Santa Paula Cemetery in Santa Paula, Ventura Co., California
Military Service: WWII, U.S. Navy, European theater
Occupation: Shoe salesman, shoe store owner
Married: Sep 15, 1944, Mary Jane Conger, Naples, Italy, during WWII
Two children: Donna Marie Whitaker, Thomas Edward Whitaker

5. Melvin Lawrence Whitaker (baptized Claude Lawrence Whitaker)
Born: Apr 18, 1911, Paddy Creek, Baker Co., Oregon
Died: Dec 19, 1943 (age 32), took ill in New Guinea, died days later in US Naval Hospital, New Zealand; food poisoning
Buried: Feb 3, 1949, re-interred in National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Oahu, Hawaii
Military Service: US Navy WWII, Pacific theater, Navy Seaman 1st Class
Never married, no children

6. Thelma Marie Whitaker
Born: Nov 16, 1912, Baker (or Paddy Creek), Baker Co., Oregon
Died: May 27, 1996 (age 83), Baker, Baker Co., Oregon; stroke
Buried: Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City, Baker Co., Oregon
Occupation: Worked for Baker Democrat Herald
Married: Oct 3, 1936, Warren Arthur Spencer, Baker, Baker Co., Oregon
Seven children: Brian Rodney Spencer, Adah Rose Spencer, (Adah changed her name to Suzanne “Suzy” Patricia Spencer), Cheryl Ann Spencer, Mary Janine “Jan” Spencer, Marie “Celeste” Spencer, Gregory Warren “Greg” Spencer, Kim Marie Spencer

7. Edward Joseph “Ed” Whitaker
Born: Dec 20, 1914, Baker (or Paddy Creek), Baker Co., Oregon
Died: Mar 19, 1978 (age 63), Temple City, Los Angeles Co., California; phlebitis
Buried: Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City, Baker Co., Oregon
Military Service: WWII, US Navy
Occupation: Las Vegas bartender & card dealer at the Aladdin Casino
Married (1): Toni Adelle unkn
Married (2): Frances Mae “Fran/Kitty” (Coffman) Scarritt
Divorced
No children

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Timeline and Records

Six children of Finley McLaren “Frank” Chamberlin & Emily S. Hoy:
1. Nellie Belle Chamberlin
1873 – 1956
2. Frederick Lawrence “Fred” Chamberlin
1875 – 1955
3. Ada Agnes Chamberlin
1877 – 1960
4. Roy Valentine Chamberlin
1881 – 1923
5. Mary Agnes “Mamie” Chamberlin
1887 – 1980
6. Willard Joseph “Joe” Chamberlin
1890 – 1971

Five children of Frederick Lucius Whitaker & Nancy Irena “Irene” Wakefield:
1. Nellie R. “Pink” Whitaker
1866 – 1875
2. William L. Whitaker
1869 – 1943
3. James Lucius “Lennie” Whitaker
1871 – 1893
4. Edward Lawrence “Ed” Whitaker
1874 – 1915
5. Franklin D. “Frank” Whitaker
1877 – 1947

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Jul 4, 1874: Birth of Edward Lawrence “Ed” Whitaker, 4th of 5 children of Frederick Lucius Whitaker & Nancy Irena “Irene” Wakefield, in Pardee, Atchison Co., Kansas

Mar 1, 1875: Kansas State Census for Center, Atchison Co., Kansas:
Name: Edy Whitaker (Edward Lawrence Whitaker)
Census Date: 1 Mar 1875
Residence County: Atchison
Residence State: Kansas
Locality: Center
Birth Place: Kansas
Gender: Male
Age: 1
Birth Year: bt 1874
Race: White
Household Member(s):
Name Age
F S Whitaker: Head, age 31
N J Whitaker: wife, age 28
Wm Whitaker: son, age 6
Len Whitaker: son, age 4
Edy Whitaker: son, age 1 (Edward Lawrence Whitaker)

Nov 6, 1877: Birth of Ada Agnes Chamberlin, 3rd of 6 children of Finley McLaren “Frank” Chamberlin & Emily S. Hoy, in Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., Texas

Jun 8, 1880: Federal Census for Precinct #5, Travis Co., Texas:
Chamberlain, Frank: age 34, born New York, father born NY, mother born NY, Contractor on RR (Chamberlin)
Emily: wife, age 29, born Pennsylvania, father born Pa, mother born Pa, keeping house
Winifred: daughter, age 10, at home, born Kansas, father born NY, mother born Pa (Winnie, the daughter of Emily and her 1st husband, Frank Davis)
Nelly: daughter, age 7, born Missouri, father born NY, mother born Pa (Nellie)
Frederick: son, age 5, born Kansas, father born NY, mother born Pa
Ada: daughter, age 2, born Texas, father born NY, mother born Pa

Jun 21, 1880: Federal Census, Capitol, Hinsdale Co., Colorado
Name: Edgar Whittaker
[Edward Whitaker]
Age: 6
Birth Date: Abt 1874
Birthplace: Kansas
Home in 1880: Capitol, Hinsdale, Colorado
Street: On Road Between Lake City & Capitol
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Son
Marital status: Single
Father’s Name: F.L. Whittaker (Frederick Lucius Whitaker)
Father’s Birthplace: Massachusetts
Mother’s Name: Nancy Whittaker
Mother’s Birthplace: Ohio
Household Members:
F. L. Whittaker: head, age 36, works in silver mine, born Massachusetts (Frederick Lucius Whitaker)
Nancy Whittaker: Wife, age 33, born Ohio
Wm Whittaker: son, age 11, born Oregon
Lennie Whittaker: son, age 8, born Kansas
Edgar Whittaker: son, age 6, born Kansas (Edward Whitaker)
Franklin Whittaker: son, age 3, born Colorado

Jul 11, 1881: Letter from Winnie Davis Chamberlin (age 11 yr, 11 mo) to her father, Frank:
July the 11
My dear papa, I have not been going to school much I was sick for too weeks in bed and doctor stayed four nights with me. Ball is as fat as ever. I wish you could be here to ride with us. There is a lady lives sight (sic: right) across the street from us had a little girl that was out a walking one day and got sick the next day and died the same day. The doctor says it is to hot to go to school so mama says I need not go to school until fall. There are so menny pepel killed on the cars at the roundhouse. Is old jack with you yet and does he seam to miss us much. We have a little brown puppy and a little kitten and mama wishes that it would die because it dose so many bad tricks. Yesterday we had one of our young chickens for dinner and nelly had your part of the chicken but nelly sid she wished you was here to have the haid because it was so fat. We go every morning to the river to water Ball. We have a hen with ten little chickens about two weeks old and they gro so fast. My pullet lays all the time. Those little chickens that we brot with us from camp the roosters crow and the pullet go around a singing just like the old hens. Papa writ to me when you have time, ada is better then she was when mama wrote. I am going to take a ride now so.
I will close for this time.
your loving
Winnie
Note: Nelly (age 8) and Ada (3 yr, 8 mo) are Winnie’s half-sisters. This letter may have been written in the Colorado/Wyoming/Nebraska area where Emily may have been staying with her brothers. However, Ada’s brother Roy is born the following month in Fort Worth, Tarrant Co. Texas. Winnie dies 7 months later in Fremont, Dodge Co., Nebraska.

Mar 26, 1882: Death of Winifred M. “Winnie” [Davis] Chamberlin (age 12), the only child of Emily (Hoy) Chamberlin and Frank Davis (her 1st husband), in Fremont, Dodge Co., Nebraska. Winnie was small for her age and apparently a rather sickly child as noted in family letters, and family lore has the young girl died while skipping rope. Winnie is buried in the Ridge Cemetery (block 143, lot 4, grave 11) in one of the twelve family plots in Ridge Cemetery owned by Emily’s brother, James S. Hoy.

Mar 30, 1882: Fremont Weekly Tribune, Fremont, Dodge Co., Nebraska:
Died—In this city, on Sunday March 26th, Winnie, oldest child of Frand (Frank) and Emily (Hoy) Chamberlin, aged 12 years, 7 months, and 3 days. The funeral services were held at the Catholic church Monday at 3 p.m.
Note: Emily and her children were staying for a time in Fremont, Dodge Co., Nebraska

Sep 1883: Frank (age 38) and Emily (age 33) Chamberlin move to Savanna, Carroll Co., Illinois, another major railroad center. Their four older children, Nellie (age 9), Fred (age 8), Ada (age 5), and Roy (nearly age 2) were born in towns along the MK&T line (Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway), also known as the Katy line

Nellie Belle Chamberlin
Born: Mar 7, 1873, Kansas City, Jackson Co., Missouri
Frederick Lawrence “Fred” Chamberlin
Born: Apr 17, 1875, Garnett, Anderson Co., Kansas
Ada Agnes Chamberlin
Born: Nov 6, 1877, Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., Texas
Roy Valentine Chamberlin
Born: Aug 22, 1881, Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., Texas

Jun 1885: Kansas State Census, Mesa Co., Colorado:
Name: Edward Whitaker
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 9
Marital status: Single
Birth Date: abt 1876
Birth Place: Colorado
Residence Year: 1885
Residence Place: Mesa, Colorado
Relation to Head of Household: Son
Father’s Birth Place: Massachusetts
Mother’s Birth Place: Massachusetts
Household Members: Name Relationship
F L Whitaker: Head, age 41, stock man
Irene Whitaker: Wife, age 37
Wm Whitaker: Son, age 16
James Whitaker: Son, age 11
Edward Whitaker: Son, age 9
Frank Whitaker: Son, age 6

Circa 1894: Photo of Chamberlin sisters:

Assuming this was taken about the time the family lived in Fruita, Colorado
Mamie Chamberlin: (born Jan 6, 1887) abt age 7/8
Nellie Chamberlin: (born Mar 7, 1873) abt age 21
Ada Chamberlin: (born Nov 6, 1877) abt age 16

1896: Emily Chamberlin (mother of Ada) and her five younger children are living in Anaconda, El Paso Co., Colorado. She is listed in the Cripple Creek & Victor City Directory in Anaconda, a booming gold mining town in the Cripple Creek district of Colorado. Emily is running the Colorado House, a small hotel. Ada’s father Frank is not listed, so they may be living apart or he is railroading in another part of the country. Charles Chatfield, the brother-in-law of Ada and her sister Nellie’s husband, is running a meat market out of the F&CCRR (Florence & Cripple Creek Railroad) station.

1896: Cripple Creek & Victor City Directory, Anaconda, El Paso Co., Colorado (pg 98):
Chamberlin, Ada A, bds Colorado House. (Ada, daughter of Frank & Emily)
Chamberlin, E S, propr Colorado house, res do. (Emily S. Chamberlin)
Chamberlin, Frederick L, miner, bds Colorado House. (Fred, son of Frank & Emily)
(pg 99):
Colorado House, E S Chamberlin propr, s s Main, 15 w Victor. (Emily S. Chamberlin)
(translation: Colorado House, Emily S. Chamberlin, proprietor, south side of Main at 15 west Victor Street)
Colorado House is also listed under Hotels:
Chatfield, Charles H, meat market, s s Main, 2 F&CCRR, res do. (husband of Nellie Chamberlin Chatfield)

1897: Children of Finley “Frank” & Emily Chamberlin, photo by Marshall, 1637 Larimer St., Denver:

Handwritten on the back of the photo:
“Anaconda, Colorado, 1897” 
Note: estimated ages according to date on the back of the picture:
Roy Valentine Chamberlin (abt 15)
Willard Joseph Chamberlin (abt 7)
Frederick L. Chamberlin (abt 22)
Nellie (Chamberlin) Chatfield (abt 24); Nellie was married in Dec 1894
Mary “Mamie” Chamberlin (abt 10) (although she looks younger)
Ada Agnes Chamberlin (abt 19)

Early 1898: Marriage of Ada Agnes Chamberlin & Dr. William James “Doc” Chambers, Colorado. Ada is abt 19/20 and Doc is abt 30/31

1899: Annulment of Ada Agnes Chamberlin & Dr. William James “Doc” Chambers. Doc Chambers, a prominent man about town who came from a wealthy New York family, is the town physician for Cripple Creek, El Paso Co., Colorado working from the Palace Pharmacy. Doc is also part owner of the Palace Hotel and owns property in the red light district, which gave many of the wealthy men of that time a good income. Prior to Ada Chamberlin, Doc was married to an Ella L., who divorced him for non-support and accused him of being a philanderer. Doc then married Ada, but within a year their marriage was annulled. According to family lore, as Doc was married before his betrothal to Ada, their union was not recognized by the Catholic Church and at the bidding of the new Bishop, and as her beliefs stood before her marriage even though she loved him—Ada left Doc. He then married Miss Catherine “Kitty” Howard.

Dec 6, 1898: Birth of Howard James Chambers, the only child of Ada Agnes Chamberlin & Dr. William James “Doc” Chambers, in Cripple Creek, El Paso Co., Colorado (Teller County is created from El Paso and Fremont counties in 1899). His parents’ marriage must have been annulled sometime just before or around the time of Howard’s birth, as Doc remarries in Jan of 1899.

Nov 22, 1899: Divorce of Ada Agnes Chamberlin & Dr. William James “Doc” Chambers in El Paso (Teller Co.), Colorado
Note: On a marriage application two years hence, she gives reason for divorce from Doc Chambers as desertion. El Paso Co., Colorado, divorce docket #005620, William is the petitioner and Ada the respondent

Colorado Divorce Index:
Name: William J Chambers
Divorce Date: 22 Nov 1899
Divorce Place: El Paso, Colorado (Teller Co.)
Spouse: Ada Chambers
Record Type: Divorce

Dec 1899: Howard Chambers, age 1 year:

Jun 1, 1900: Federal Census, Eddy, Eddy Co., New Mexico:
Chambers, Ada: head of household, born Nov 1877, age 22, born Texas, father born Vermont (sic: New York), mother born Pennsylvania, married 1897, one child born, one child living, can read, can write, house owned
Chambers, Howard J: son, born Dec 1898, age 1, Colorado, white, male, single, born Colorado, father born New York, mother born Texas
Chamberlin, Findley M: father, born Sep 1841, age 58, birthplace Vermont (sic: Wyoming), white, male, married, Supt of Mines (Ada’s father, Finley Chamberlin)

Note: In the Jun 1900 Census, Ada is listed as head of household, living in this house with her father Finley “Frank” Chamberlin and her son Howard Chambers

Jun 5, 1900: Federal Census, Eldora Town, Boulder Co., Colorado:
Chamberlain, E.S.: head, born Jul 1851, age 48, widow, 6 children born, 6 children living, born Pennsylvania, father born Penn, mother born Penn, restaurant keeper, owns home  (Emily S. (Hoy) Chamberlin)
Roy: son, born Aug 1881, age 18, single, born Texas, father born New York, mother born Pennsylvania, waiter in restaurant
Mamie: daughter, born Jan 1887, age 13, born Texas, father born New York, mother born Pennsylvania, at school
Wilford: son, born Aug 1890, age 9, born Texas, father born New York, (Willard) mother born Pennsylvania, at school
Note: Emily’s (E.S.) birth year is listed as 1851 rather than 1850, so would be age 49. She is listed as the owner of the property without a mortgage and is running a restaurant; her son Roy is working with her as a waiter. She is not a widow as her husband Frank is still alive and Frank is in the above 1900 Eddy, New Mexico census living with their daughter Ada (Chamberlin) Chambers. Emily’s 1st child, Winnie, is not accounted for in the number of children born or deceased.

Jun 16, 1900: Federal Census, East Eagle, Union Co., Oregon:
Edward Whelener (Edward Whitaker)
Age: 25
Birth Date: Jul 1874
Birthplace: Kansas
Home in 1900: East Eagle, Union, Oregon
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Son
Marital status: Single
Father’s Name: Fr Whelener (Frederick Lucius Whitaker)
Father’s Birthplace: Massachusetts
Mother’s Name: Irene A Whelener (Nancy Irena “Irene” Whitaker)
Mother’s Birthplace: Ohio
Occupation: Marker Miner
Can Read: Yes
Can Write: Yes
Can Speak English: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
Fr Whelener: head, age 57, born Massachusetts (Frederick Lucius Whitaker)
Irene A Whelener: wife, age 53, 5 children born, 3 living, born Ohio (Nancy Irena “Irene” Whitaker)
Edward Whelener: son, age 25, born Kansas (Edward Lawrence Whitaker)

Apr 22, 1902: Marriage of Ada Agnes (Chamberlin) Chambers & Edward Lawrence “Ed” Whitaker (her 2nd marriage), in Grand Junction, Mesa Co., Colorado. Ada (age 24) is the 3rd of 6 children of Frank Chamberlin and Emily Hoy; Ed is age 27.
Note: Edward and Ada remove to Baker City, Baker Co., Oregon, where their six children are born

Apr 22, 1902: Mesa County Colorado Marriage Index:
Name: Edward L Whitaker
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 22 Apr 1902
Marriage Place: Mesa Colorado 
Spouse Name: Ada Agnes Chambers
Spouse Gender: Female
Document ID: 3261164

Apr 22, 1902: Colorado Select Marriage Index:
Name: Edward L. Whitaker
Marriage Date: 22 Apr 1902
Marriage Place: Grand Junction, Mesa, Colorado
Spouse: Ada Agnes Chambers

Apr 22, 1902: Colorado Marriage Record:

Apr 22, 1902: Colorado Select County Marriages (filed Jul 10, 1902):

1903: Doc Chambers moves from Cripple Creek, Colorado to Southern California

Aug 11, 1903: Birth of Vera Stanislaus Whitaker, 1st of 7 children of Edward Lawrence Whitaker & Ada Agnes Chamberlin in Baker (or Paddy Creek), Baker Co., Oregon.

Mar 21, 1904: Letter from Ada (Chamberlin) Whitaker (age 26) to her mother Emily (age 53):
Baker City, Ore.
March 21, 1904
My dear Mamma,
I will send these papers to you to be signed, which I should have done some time ago. You keep one of them and send the other back, sign them both under Ed’s name and put that little funny business around the word “seal” but I guess you have signed enough of them to know all about it.

Chatfields have gone to Rifle to live. Nellie sent a paper from there and it told about selling their ranch and buying in town etc.

I have started me a new suit but I have no idea when I’ll get it finished. We are having snow just at present, of all the disagreeable months that any one could experience, Feb. and this much of March certainly take the premium here.

Well I have nothing else to write so must stop. All here are well and I hope you are also.
Lovingly, Ada

Feb 7, 1905: Birth of Leonard Fenley “Len” Whitaker, 2nd of 7 children of Edward Lawrence Whitaker & Ada Agnes Chamberlin, in Baker (or Paddy Creek), Baker Co., Oregon. Len’s military record lists his middle name as Fenley. My assumption is that it is actually Finley, named after his grandfather, Finley McLaren “Frank” Chamberlin.

Apr 12, 1905: Letter from Frank Chamberlin (age 59) to his daughters Ada (Chamberlin) Whitaker (age 27) and Mamie Chamberlin (age 18) living in Baker, Oregon:
Sawtelle, Apr 12, 1905
Dear daughters,
I was glad to get your letter & that you are all well. I am doing fairly well but I wish I could get along faster. We are having a great building boom here, houses going up in every direction since they have started work on the new electric line. They had quite a time here on Saturday, 40 years since Lee surrendered. All the shoulder straps were out showing themselves. I didn’t take it in as it didn’t interest me much. The weather has been cloudy for several days but have a little sun today. How did Frank James get such a good job & what is he to do besides the drilling. Yes, I wish you could all get to be in the fair as you are so near & I hope you can go and get something to do to pay expenses. Well, I suppose Ed wont have to leave anything on the books. The (? ? ?) and he will be out his time & expenses, hope he will have better luck buying horses. I suppose payment can be stopped on the last check. Well you so seem to have hard luck all around, maybe it will change after awhile, I hope so. At least I believe that all I can think of this time.
PS Mamie,
I wish you would send me that medicine, don’t see why you have not sent it before. Well, write as often as you can, love to you both,
your Father, FC

May 8, 1905: Letter from Frank Chamberlin (age 59) to daughters Ada (age 27) and Mamie (age 18) in Baker, Oregon:
Soldiers Home
May 8, 1905
Dear daughters,
I just got your letter & will ans. right away for I like to hear from you as often as I can. I got admitted yesterday, that is what they call F.A.O., that is admitted temporarily & we get a second hand suit of clothes. From here I will be admitted regularly & assigned to some co. & then I get a suit of new clothes while I am at FAO. I am liable to be called on to work every day but I went to the Dr. & got excused till first of March. I am not getting well very fast, my stomach won’t stand the grub they have in the dining room. The grub would be all right if I had a stomach like an Ostrich but I cant go it now. There is a good restaurant here at the home & if I can make my money hold out I shal get most of my meals there. Things are very reasonable. I won’t get any more pension till June as I have to be transferred to San Francisco & I expect I will go broke before that time.

The weather is fine here since the rain and the home is a beautiful place, so much shrubbery, so many flowers. We can see the ocean from here. Its four miles away. We are 14 miles from Los Angeles & 4 miles from Santa Monica. Electric cars pass every 10 or 15 minutes. They have a big cage of birds here, something like San Francisco only on a smaller scale. There are parrots, cocatoes, China Pheasants, quail, bobwhite & California canaries, red birds and half dozen different kinds of birds from tropical countries – a black eagle and a dozen others that I don’t know what they are. Certainly use the telescope.

I hope you will like the job & do well. No, Mamie did not say anything about Nelley at all. They raise bananas and dates here & things look beautiful here now. Well, I don’t think of anything else this time, if there is anything you want to know about let me know & I will try to let you know. Love to you both & give my regards to Mrs. Whitaker.
Your Father
FC

Jun 3, 1905: Letter from Frank Chamberlin (age 59) to his daughter Mamie Chamberlin (age 18):
Sawtelle, Calif
June 3, 1905
My Dear Daughter,
Got your letter & the suspenders this PM & think they are very nice. We had quite a big time here, big crowds from outside, they fed about 600 outsiders here at the home. Well, the grub don’t get any better but I am doing fairly well, have got back some of the flesh I lost before I came here only I don’t get strong very fast. There is talk here that we are to have a change for the better in the grub line the 1st of July. I will have to see it before I believe it. I hope its true.

Well, pay day is about all the old Soldiers have to look forward to. I think we will get paid between the 13 & 16 & then I will send you a little money. My teeth have got so bad I want to get some made if I can after pay day. We are about 4 miles from the beach, I walked down there once since I have been here. Yes, they irrigate here where they can get water on the land. Yes, the home is very pretty to look at but thats about all. There is a graft on nearly everything here. Don’t like the mornings here, its nearly always cold & foggy till about 10 Am but after that its quite nice. I don’t know when hot weather begins here, haven’t had but one hot day yet & it was cold enough the day after to make up for it. I have never been to Los Angeles since I have been here but am going after my pension day to have my teeth attended to. They are so bad I can hardly eat anything any more. I am sorry Ada & Ed are going to Alaska. I am afraid it wont be a success.
Love, from your Father FC
Note: Frank’s son-in-law, Ed Whitaker, makes a living as a mine, albeit apparently unsuccessfully

Jun 29, 1905: Letter from Frank Chamberlin (age 59) to his daughter, Ada Whitaker (age 27):
Sawtelle, Calif
June 29, 1905
My Dear Daughter,
I don’t know of anything going on here. There will be a big rush to Long Beach & Ocean Park & other resorts, don’t think there will be anything here. The mornings still continue to be foggy, We had a shooting scrape here at the home the day before yesterday, one old soldier shot another, did it about noon and the man died the next day. I believe it was an old grudge, they had trouble once or twice before. The one that did the shooting they took to Los Angeles to jail & I heard this morning that he hung himself in jail, don’t know if insane or not.

I think the suspenders are fine. Are you going to Portland or what are you going to do? You know how Roy is going along? I hope he will get all right without an operation. I think the pictures are good. How does Billy & Gordon look? Is Will making anything on his contract? I suppose Frank is at Portland.

I wish you would find out for me if Mr. Dean & Dr. Parker have been paid what I owe them. Ed has never said a word about it. I promised Mrs. Dean I would pay the bill as soon as I got my pension & Ed promised to pay it out of my check he got & I don’t like it if he didn’t do it. What has been done with the shotgun? Has Vera got so she can talk yet? Suppose you all had a good time up at Washington. I am feeling farely well at present. The teeth I got don’t do very well, the plate on one side comes down too far & makes the gums sore, but I can have that fixed all right when I go to have the other one made, or at any time if I go into Los Angeles. Don’t fail to answer the questions I asked you. I don’t think of anything more this time.
Love, from your Father FC

Jul 14, 1905: Letter from Frank Chamberlin (age 59) to his daughter, Mamie Chamberlin (age 18), in Oregon:
Sawtelle, Calif
July 14, 1905
Dear Daughter Mamie,
Just got your letter & may as well answer at once. I am glad to hear Roy is getting along all right. Ada doesn’t say anything about coming to Calif., talks like they are going to leave Baker & going over near Weaver were she says Ed has a contract. Things are about the same old thing here. They have a new R.R. to the home & I suppose will soon be running trains to the grounds to haul all the supplies for the home. They will save money for themselves as they have to pay for the hauling from town. I am going to take a trip to Ocean Park next month if nothing happens. It is a great resort. I don’t expect to see much of Calif while I stay here & that wont be long.
Love from your Father
FC

Jul 30, 1905: Letter from Frank Chamberlin to his daughters, Ada (age 27) and Mamie (age 18), in Baker, Oregon:
Sawtelle,
July 30, 1905
My Dear Daughters,
Well we are not bothered here with hot weather & don’t think we are likely to be. Well I think I will go & stay with Nelly for a while & see how it goes & if I don’t like it I wont have to stay. She has asked me to come three or four times, sent me a letter shortly before they were to leave Rifle & wanted me to come & make the trip with them, said they had two wagons & were well fixed to make the trip. I would have liked to have made the trip but could not get away from here till after pension day as I had no money. I think I will take a furlow for six months & I can renew it at any time if I want to, or think I can get transferred to another home if I like.

I am sorry you cant both go to Portland. So there is another Sheny in Baker, well one more or less don’t matter. It seems like Ed (Ada’s husband) cant get at anything but it goes wrong some way. It would be nice if you could be at the mine, this hot wether the huckleberries would be fine now if there are any out. Suppose the mine has gone to the dogs before now. I was in hopes we might get something out of it after a while. What is Ed doing now?

I have a letter from Willard – he said Bessy McCasky had been there and staid a few days. Her husband has a grocery in Los Angeles. He says they are trying to sell out. Fred says he wont stay there another year anyhow. They have had bad luck as they always have. He says Fred is coming to Los Angeles the 10 of Aug & is going with Bessy & her husband to the grocers picnic.

I think we will have the electric line running to the home in a few days, they are putting up the pole now. Figs are ripe here now, that is the black ones, but I don’t think they are any good, they are to sickeny to suit me, guess they would be fairly good with sugar & cream. I think the white ones will be better but they are not ripe yet.

Well I dont get along very well here, have had three or four bad days lately but feel some better just now. One of the Drs. gave me an examination yesterday & said had intestinal medicine an(d) he is giving me a course of treatment now & said for me to see the head of surgeons & get a special diet of milk three times a day, the head surgeon is the only one that can make out the diet list. I went twice to see him today but its Sunday & missed me but think I can catch him tomorrow & if I do I am going to live on crackers & milk.

Well I hope it has cooled off a little by this time. I see they are having terrible hot weather everywhere. I suppose you have seen the account on the gunboat (USS) Bennington blown up (due to a boiler explosion) at San Diego harbor, 60 or more were killed and nearly everyone was hurt. I believe the blame is on the officers of the boat. Guess that’s all this time,
Love from your Father
FC

Paddy Creek gold mine in Baker Co., Oregon

1905: Edward Whitaker (age 35):

1905: Ed & Ada (Chamberlin) Whitaker, Howard Chambers (in middle), baby Len and Vera, in Paddy Creek, Oregon

Aug 1905: Finley McLaren “Frank” Chamberlin travels to Rifle, Colorado to stay with his oldest daughter, Nellie. He passes away shortly thereafter.

Aug 9, 1905: Death of Finley McLaren “Frank” Chamberlin (age 59), father of Ada and Nellie, in Rifle, Garfield Co., Colorado, from a stomach hemorrhage.

Note: Death certificate lists his name as Frank Chamberlin, age almost sixty years, occupation Rail Road Conductor, mother’s maiden name Surdam, the information provided by Mrs. C.H. Chatfield (Mrs. Charles Henry Chatfield aka Nellie Chamberlin Chatfield), a daughter. A Civil War veteran, Frank is buried in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Rifle.

Apr 19, 1907: Birth of Zelda Beatrice Whitaker, 3rd of 7 children of Edward Lawrence Whitaker & Ada Agnes Chamberlin in Baker (or Paddy Creek), Baker Co., Oregon.

Circa 1907: Photo of Ada and her two sisters, Nellie and Mamie with some of their children:

Ada (Chamberlin) Whitaker, her son Howard Chambers (at her elbow, born Dec 1898, abt age 8),
Nellie (Chamberlin) Chatfield (in middle), Mamie Chamberlin (at right)
Children standing in front: Vera Whitaker (pigtails, born 1903),
Donald Whitaker? (born 1909), Zelda Whitaker? (born 1907)
Assuming picture was taken in 1907: Ada would be abt 28, Nellie abt 33, and Mamie abt 18.
Vera Whitaker (pigtails) would be abt 3 or 4 (born in 1903), Donald Whitaker age a year or so, Zelda Whitaker 2ish,
and Howard Chambers (born Dec 1898) age 9.
The picture was taken at Paddy Creek, Eagle District, Baker Co., Oregon, Oregon where Ada & Edward lived at the Paddy Creek mine.

Ada (Chamberlin) Whitaker, one of her children, and her sister Mamie at right:

Feb 12, 1909: Birth of Donald Edward Whitaker, 4th of 7 children of Edward Lawrence Whitaker & Ada Agnes Chamberlin in Baker (or Paddy Creek), Baker Co., Oregon.
Note: He was originally named Donald Lincoln Whitaker (he was born on Lincoln’s birthday). His mother changed his middle name to Edward upon the death of his father, Edward Lawrence Whitaker.

Apr 16, 1910: Federal Census for Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California:
Chambers, J.W.: roomer, age 45, married 3 times, current marriage 10 years, born New York, both parents born New York, physician: general practice on own account
Note: 1st husband of Ada Agnes (Chamberlin) Whitaker

May 2, 1910: Federal Census, East Eagle Precinct, Baker Co., Oregon:
Whitaker, Edward L.: head, age 35, married 8 years, born Kansas, father born Vermont, mother born Ohio, miner in a gold mine
Ada A.: wife age 32, married 8 years, 5 children, 5 living, born Texas, father born Michigan, mother born Illinois
Howard J.: step-son age 11, born Colorado, father born New York, mother born Texas
Vera S.: daughter age 6, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Leonard F.: age 5 born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Zelda B.: daughter age 3, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Donald L.: son, age 1 year 2 months, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas

1910 at the mine: Zelda (age 3), Len (age 5yr, 6 mo), Donald (age 1 yr, 6 mo) Whitaker, and half-brother Howard Chambers (age 11):

1910 at the mine: top to bottom: Howard Chambers (age 11), Len (age 5yr, 6 mo), Zelda (age 3), Donald (age 1 yr, 6 mo)

Apr 18, 1911: Birth of Melvin Lawrence Whitaker, 5th of 7 children of Edward Lawrence Whitaker & Ada Agnes Chamberlin, in Baker (or Paddy Creek), Baker Co., Oregon.
Note: Melvin was baptized Claude Lawrence Whitaker

Nov 16, 1912: Birth of Thelma Marie Whitaker, 6th of 7 children of Edward Lawrence Whitaker & Ada Agnes Chamberlin, in Baker (or Paddy Creek), Baker Co., Oregon.

Mar 4, 1914: Letter from Ada (Chamberlin) Whitaker (age 36) to her sister Mamie (Chamberlin) Rosborough (age 26):
Paddy Cr., Ore.
March 4, 1914
My dear Sister,
I guess Ed will send “Windy” over to Sparta tomorrow as the snow is very hard now or is hard enough for one to go good on snow-shoes and he is a snow shoving machine at least to hear him tell it.

Everyone here is O.K. excepting Fred’s elbow stays lame and Ed has so much trouble with his face. I know he ought to see a Dr. about it. It has hurt him since he and Herb were in town last Jan. Dr. Parker told him he thought it was caused from his catarrah but he never went to his office and had it examined as he should have.

How is every one at your house? I am going to send you a picture that Melvin found in a magazine. He saw it and said, “look Mama, here is Mamie’s Mildred.” I think it looks very much like her, don’t you?

I’ll be glad when the first of May comes and you can come and see us, someone may be over that way before then. I don’t know but what I may take Thelma on my back and go over myself and get my teeth patched up.

Did you get your wool cards? I sent them back by Mr. “Windy”, the next day.

Are you going to plant any garden, at your place in Halfway, this Spring? I wish we had that much level ground here. I would have the fun of seeing a little garden stuff freeze.
Write to us at Sparta and we will get it some time.
Love to all,
Ada W.

Aug 1914: Paddy Creek, Baker Co., Oregon:

Circa 1914: Picture of Ada (age 36) at Paddy Creek, waist-deep in snow. She has a set of tall skis in her right hand and a long pole in her left.

Dec 20, 1914: Birth of Edward Joseph “Ed” Whitaker, 7th of 7 children of Edward Lawrence Whitaker & Ada Agnes Chamberlin, in Baker City, Baker Co., Oregon

Apr 28, 1915: Letter from Ada Whitaker (age 37) to her sister, Mamie Rosborough (age 27):
Spokane, Wash.
April 28, 1915
My dear Sister,
They do funny things in a queer way in Baker, the children were not to make their first communion until in May or June and I fully intended to make Zelda (age 8) a pair of white drawers and to make that white dress over for her, it does look so Dutchy and the sleeves are so old fashioned and short and if you will go down with Len and get him a pair of black or darkest blue pants, serge I guess, he has nothing to wear excepting those brown ones and you will have to buy Zelda a pair of white drawers and take Len’s coat, the one Howard used to wear, to the tailor and have him fix the pocket he ought to do that for 50 cents I should think and I’ll get some money from Mr. Lumsden when I get back and make good what you are out while I am gone. I guess you will have to get Zelda enough wide white ribbon for a belt for her Dutchy dress also. I got her a hair ribbon before I left and intended to curl her hair for the occasion.

How much I am making out for you to do in such a short time, but just do your best dear sister and maybe I can do something for you some day but please God not under the same circumstances.

Mamie, if you could only see my poor boy – but I am glad you will remember him as you last saw him. Now his poor bones almost stick through the skin and the skin on his face is almost beyond describing.

His trouble has turned into a cancer and he is a horrible sight and how he prays for God to take him away before he becomes so repulsive that no one will want to come near him, just as though that could ever be.

The Dr. comes every morning to dress his poor face and head and it is becoming so terrible painful to him, he never makes a sound but just quivers and trembles all over. I don’t think there was ever a more pitiful case and he is so very very patient. He is reading your letter now and do you know he still dresses every morning and when necessary goes out to the closet. Isn’t his vitality wonderful and if he had even the smallest chance for life he would out live it, but he never asks for his life any more, only to be taken away soon.

Tell the children papa sends them his love and says for them to love and mind Aunt Mamie and what ever they do to never forget or neglect their religion what ever they do.

Tell them to offer up their first communion that they may never never fall into mortal sin and that Howard will be a good catholic and that papa’s end here may be quiet and peaceful and for a happy death for us all and if it be God’s will to yet make papa well.

And now I must close for today. Tell all the children to be good.
Lovingly your sister,
Ada
Note: Ada’s sister Mamie, is caring for Ada and Ed’s children. So he could be closer to his doctors, Ed and Ada are living in one room with their six-month-old baby at Ed’s parents’ house in Spokane, who are extremely unkind to Ada throughout this ordeal.

May 6, 1915: Letter from Ada Whitaker (age 37) to her sister Mamie (age 27) and Ada’s children:
Spokane, Wash
May 6, 1915
My dear Sister & Children –
Ed put in a very bad night. Aunt Olie and I thought it surely was his last, but I guess it was that horrid powerful morphine the Dr. and his father gave him, he has not been out from under its influence since yesterday about 9:30 a.m. It is terrible, oh how I wish Almighty God would give him back to us in health and strength once again and I shall never cease praying for that end until it is to late.

I wish you could know Aunt Olie. She is as different from Grandma as day is from night, you could not help loving her, no primps and frizzes and put ons about her. She is just true blue and is so good to all especially the baby and Ed. How I wish I had never let Ed come up here this last time, we could have managed him at home, he requires so little waiting on even now in this helpless condition.

Frank sent a package to his mother for me & for the children something in the wearing line, but I would have appreciated it far more if he had sent me the $16.00 he owed me and I could get what I wanted. I suppose I ought to be grateful but I am not and wish he had not sent anything. I hope God will forgive me for being ungrateful especially now and I wouldn’t do him the least harm in the world or wish him the least bit of bad luck, but I don’t like him and can’t pretend to. He has been too mean to Ed. Ed wrote him a nice short letter of forgiveness etc. about three days ago, also Fred and Nellie.

The Dr. has just come to deal Ed some more misery and this is the first time he has not been able to get up. This a.m. he has to have his face dressed in bed.
The Dr. has just gone. He told me it was only a matter of a few days now as it has eaten nearly to one of the main veins in his neck. I can’t write any more now Mamie. Tell the children to please be good and that will help so much.
Did Mr. Lumsden come in from Sparta Wed?
With love to all,
Your loving sister, Ada, and Mother
Note: Grandma referred to is Ed’s mother, Mrs. Whitaker

May 14, 1915: Letter from Ada Whitaker to her sister Mamie and Ada’s children:
Spokane, Wash.
May 14, 1915
My dear Sister & Children –
Isn’t this cold, wet weather just awful and it makes one feel so lonesome and dreary.

Your letter and the one from Howard (Howard Chambers, pictured, age 16, son of Ada & Doc Chambers) just came and I thought we would get one from Mr. Lumsden also but did not. I had a telegram from Mr. Strayer yesterday and he said a letter would follow so will get that in a few days now. I am glad you are getting along nicely and only hope all will stay well.

The baby coughs real hard but not often and mostly at night.

It still stays cold and very windy here but the cool weather is far better for poor Ed than the warm would be. I wish I might write you something encouraging about Ed’s condition but can’t, not yet anyway. Ed seems to get a little thinner and thinner every day and a little quieter. The sight has gone from his right eye entirely and he said this morning that the left eye hurts him now and it begins to look bad. You should see what quantities of morphine he takes – 15 and 20 gr and 25 grams some times in 24 hrs.

If Howard sends any pictures you can send them to me please. Doesn’t he write a poor hand and compose a childish letter for a boy 16 yrs. old? I wonder if after Ed is gone, I’ll have any trouble getting Howard home, in case I need and want him. I don’t believe I will. Well dear, I will write every two or three days and if you find time, do the same. Do you have any trouble with Thelma and Mildred quarreling and Melvin’s stubborness?

Did I tell you that Ed wants to be taken home to be buried. If you see Mr. Strayer again, ask him what I can do about it for I can not afford it now but could pay the expenses in the future, if he thinks that the expense could be put up when necessary.

If you see and talk to him, what he has to say write on a separate paper since Ed won’t see it for he always asks for your letters.

Mamie, the hole in Ed’s face now reaches from his nose right up to under his eye and straight across to his temple, then clear down his nose and a little below, straight across his cheek it is almost in a square and yet I can’t believe he is to be taken away. You never saw such a skelaton as he is, no meat at all, simply the skin and mussel drawn over his bare bones. And now he is getting bed sores, poor boy. It is pitiful to see and watch.
Love to all,
Your loving sister, Ada
Note: Mr. William Henry Strayer (b. 1866) was an attorney in Baker, Oregon

May 18, 1915: Letter from Ada Whitaker to her sister Mamie Rosborough:
Spokane, Wash.
May 18, 1915
My dear Sister,
The little bundle came yesterday and I suppose you have the one I sent.

I had such a nice letter from Mr. Strayer the other day. He said he had seen you and that you said there was nothing at present. Now Mamie, don’t dig everything out of your pocketbook; just let old Baker Co. pay for some things. I don’t expect to live there forever so won’t mind so much and don’t bother about those old bills anymore you have enough to do without that. I don’t see how I am ever to repay you as it is.

Babie’s cough is a little better I guess, anyway it does not seem as tho he coughs quite so often but just about as hard. Dr. Ahlquist here say the whooping cough lasts about six weeks when it is taken in the Spring time. And that is what I have always heard, but when taken in the Fall or Winter there seems to be no let up to it.

It still continues to pour down rain here. I am afraid this will cause washouts on the railroad. This spring storm seems to be general all over the world. I guess the freeze won’t kill the strawberries or raspberries or hurt apples very much, will it? And have you heard any report from Eagle Valley yet?

Ed is just about the same he is slowly starving now. He has had four teaspoonfuls of broth today and two yesterday. He just lives on morphine. Last night the Dr. gave him his first dose with the hypodermic needle and he was asleep in 10 minutes.

Bert and his wife came over last Sunday afternoon. I like them so much. She is a woman about my age and I know she would be splendid. I should like to know her better. She is as dark as I am and I imagine that she was a widow before Bert married her.

I wonder what poor Nellie’s trouble can be about. I wish she would tell us. She writes a sad letter, doesn’t she?

I’ll never be able to catch up with my sewing now, never so it seems to me. I hope I can get that boarding house so I could see my way to hire a little of it done. Yes I believe Irene is a fun girl and wish we might know her better some day. Zelda writes Donald is a very bad boy. Now Mamie you make you a good paddle and you use it. You won’t hurt my feelings one bit and I know you won’t use it unless necessary and I happen to know it is quite necessary quite often, so you make them all mind you every one.
Your loving sister,
Ada W.
Note: At the time of this letter, their sister, Nellie Chatfield is five months pregnant with her tenth child. Nellie had left her husband in Montana (after he had gambled away their holdings), arriving in California with her nine children in tow two years before. Charles followed three days later. Nellie never forgave him—except apparently once—as now she was pregnant, with my mother.
Note: Bert is probably Ada’s cousin, Bert Kinne, who lives in Spokane.

May 1915 (bet. 18th and 26th): Letter from Ed Whitaker (age 41) to Ada’s sister, Mamie Rosborough:
My dear dear Sister –
I can only write a line or so and Sister dear they are hard to write. I’ll never see you again here Mamie but oh dear Sister I surely hope I can enter the hereafter and there we will all meet in joy and gladness. You and Ada from now on promise me, will always be sisters and never get mad at one another.

Tell dear old Herb I’ll always remember him and I know you will get along good and happy all your days. I’ve fought hard Sister dear but I am nearly gone. Remember me in your prayers and in my simple way I’ll remember you in some little word or prayer always.
Your loving Brother, Ed
Try and convey my feelings to Herb and oh I would like to see him again. Tell him for me Mamie to come and be a Catholic for he certainly has a good Catholic wife and I am asking him to come.
Good by Mamie, Good by.
Note: Herb is Herbert Rosborough, Mamie’s husband. This letter was written shortly before Edward Whitaker passed away on May 26, 1915.

May 18, 1915: Letter from Ada Whitaker (age 37) to her young children:
Spokane, Wash
May 18, 1915
My dear little Children all –
Mamma hasn’t much to write to you only to ask you to be good. I received your letters yesterday but poor papa could not read them, but I did and was glad to get them.

Now Vera you know what you ought to do and can do to help Aunt Mamie. You can wash the dishes and on Saturday and Sunday sweep the kitchen and pantry and your bed room has to be straightened up every week and Zelda must help with the dishes and wash Thelma and empty the slops and try to keep things picked up in the bedroom and help dress the little ones in the morning and Len’s business I guess he knows, to get the wood and kindling, make the fires, empty the ashes, shake the mats and make your own bed and feed and water the chickens.

And don’t any of you go to communion unless you are sure you have no sin on your souls, and every time you go to confession tell every thing you can remember both great and small and then you will make no mistake and leave nothing out, you know it would be a most terrible thing not to tell everything in confession.

And tell Donald and Melvin to try and be good for I have told Aunt Mamie to make her a good paddle and to use it on all alike when they need from Thelma up. How does she get along, does she seem to miss her mamma?

You will have to look after Melvin the most. Vera you know how stubborn he is and Aunt Mamie won’t want to exactly kill him, altho she may feel like it so you take him in hand and relieve her of some of the trouble, and do lots of little things to help her for remember she is doing what very very few would do for us and it is hard work and lots of it.

It is going to rain again and we are so tired of it and I guess you are also.
When does your school let out? There was a big fire here last night. A six story building all burned to the ground.
You wouldn’t know your poor papa now he is so very thin and I don’t know whether I can bring him back with me or not so you must all be good and pray hard that you may meet him someday in heaven, where he will look as he did a year ago and more.
And now I must close and write to Grandma Chamberlin
With love and kisses to all,
Mamma
Note: Ada’s children: Vera (age nearly 13), Leonard (10), Zelda (8), Donald (6), Melvin (4), Thelma (2yr, 6 mo). Grandma Chamberlain is Ada’s mother, Emily S. (Hoy) Chamberlin

May 24, 1915: Letter from Edward Whitaker (age 41) to his children:
To Vera, Len, Zelda, Donald, Melvin & Thelma,
Papa is going away dear little souls and before I am gone I must write a little note to you all. Be good to mama always. Papa loves you very dearly and wants you all to remember him. I hope we meet again in the after hours. Good by to you one and all for ever.
From your passing heart-broken papa. Promise to always be true to your Christian duties.
Good-by.
Note: the six oldest Whitaker children are staying with Ada’s sister, Mamie (Chamberlin) Rosborough, in Baker, Oregon.

May 26, 1915: Death of Edward Lawrence “Ed” Whitaker (age 41) in Spokane, Spokane Co., Washington; a chewer of tobacco, he died of a cancerous mouth tumor. Ed is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker, Baker Co., Oregon.

Washington State Death Records:
Name: Edward L Whitaker
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 1875
Death Date: 23 May 1915 (incorrect: died May 26, 1915)
Age at Death: 40
Death Location: Spokane, Spokane, Washington
Father: FL Whitaker
Mother: Nancy T Wakefield
Record Source: Washington State Death Records

May 27, 1915: Morning Democrat, Baker, Baker Co., Oregon:
DEATH CLAIMS ED WHITAKER
Baker Man Passed Away In Spokane.
Ed Whittaker of this city, whose life hung in balance for several weeks at Spokane, where he went for treatment for cancer, passed away early yesterday morning, according to advices received by friends here yesterday. The body will be shipped here for burial and will arrive at 1:40 tomorrow afternoon. The funeral will be held Friday at the St. Francis Cathedral, but the exact hour has not been set. Mrs. Whitaker, summoned to Spokane about a week ago, was at his bedside when the end came.
The deceased was well known in mining circles, at one time being manager of the Paddy Creek properties and interested in others in this section for many years past. His wife and several children survive. Mr. Whittaker was about 45 years of age.

May 27, 1915: Letter to Mamie and Ada’s children from Ada Whitaker:
Spokane, Wash,
May 27th, 1915
My dear Sister & Children-
There is nothing to write only that Our Darling is gone, gone from us forever, oh it doesn’t seem that we will never have him with us any more.
I was sitting here alone with him last night and was writing a letter to Mr. Strayer, and every few minutes I would go to the bed and wet Ed’s lips, they were always so dry from the morphine, all at once I missed his regular breathing & went to the bed & moistened his lips again but he made no move. I felt his pulse & there was none, he was gone.
We will leave here Wed. evening at 8:45 that will put us in Baker on Thur at some time in the afternoon & I guess he will be buried Friday A.M.
Mr. Strayer told me he would make all the necessary arrangements. I hope Herb will get word so he can be there.
And now good-by. I’ll see you soon, just think this will be the first trip Ed & I ever took on the train together.
Aunt Olie will be with me, bless her.
Your loving & heartbroken
Sister & Mother
Note: Mr. Strayer sent a car from Baker to Paddy Creek to pick up Ed and Ada’s children to bring them to the funeral. It was the first time the children had ever seen a car. Aunt Olie was perhaps Ed Whitaker’s mother’s sister. Ed’s parents, Fred and Irene Whitaker do not attend their son’s funeral, nor do they have anything to do with his family after his death.

Jan 9, 1920: Federal Census, Baker Precinct 6, Baker Co., Oregon:
Name: Ada A Whitaker
Age: 42
Birth Year: abt 1878
Birthplace: Texas
Home in 1920: Baker, Baker, Oregon
Street: East St
House Number: 2234
Residence Date: 1920
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Widowed
Father’s Birthplace: New York
Mother’s Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Clerk
Industry: Paper Office
Employment Field: Wage or Salary
Home Owned or Rented: Rented
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Ye
Household Members Age Relationship
Ada A Whitaker: age 42, Head, widow, born Texas, father born New York, mother born Pennsylvania, clerk in paper office
Vera Whitaker: age 16, Daughter, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas, at school
Leonard Whitaker: age 14, Son, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas, at school
Zelda Whitaker, age 12, Daughter, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas, at school
Donald Whitaker: age 10, Son, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas, at school
Melvin Whitaker: age 8, Son, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas, at school
Thelma Whitaker: age 7, Daughter, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas, at school
Edward Whitaker: age 5, Son, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas

As Edward died early on, Ada raised the children working three jobs: for a newspaper, then later as a proofreader for the Democrat-Herald, during the night shift in a laundry, and for a calendar company.

As I Was Told: 
I remember being told that when Grandmother Ada Whitaker, who worked more than one job to support her family after her husband died, fell asleep while working for the local cleaners and laundry, she was fired. When the people of the town heard about the firing, they let the owner of the establishment know that they were not going to give him any more business until she was rehired. So the owner gave her back her job. As her children became old enough to work, they all got jobs and contributed to the welfare of the family. ~Jan Spencer, granddaughter of Ada Whitaker

abt 1920: Ada and daughter Thelma (abt age 8) on front porch in Baker:

Early 1920s: Whitaker boys: Melvin, Ed, and Don:

1925: U.S. City Directories, Baker City, Oregon:
Name: Ada A Whitaker
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1925
Street Address: 223 Bridge
Residence Place: Baker City, Oregon
Occupation: Circulation Mgr
Spouse: (wid Edward)
Publication Title: Baker City, Oregon, City Directory, 1925

1928: U.S. City Directories, Baker City, Oregon:
Name: Ada A Whitaker
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1928
Street Address: 1639 2d
Residence Place: Baker City, Oregon
Occupation: Circulation Mgr
Spouse: (wid Edward)
Publication Title: Baker City, Oregon, City Directory, 1928

Chamberlin sisters: Mamie Rosborough & Ada Whitaker:

1929: Chico, Butte Co., California, family photo at Nellie (Chamberlin) Chatfield, Ada’s older sister:

Note: Nellie lives in Chico, Butte Co., California, Mamie lives in Temple, Lewis Co., Idaho, and Ada lives in Baker, Baker Co., Oregon

1930: U.S. City Directories, Baker City, Oregon:
Name: Mrs. Ada A Whitaker
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1930
Street Address: 1917 Clifford
Residence Place: Baker City, Oregon
Occupation: Circ Mgr
Publication Title: Baker City, Oregon, City Directory, 1930

Apr 9, 1930: Federal Census, Baker City, Baker Co., Oregon:
Name: A Whittaker
Birth Year: abt 1878
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age in 1930: 52
Birthplace: Texas
Marital Status: Widowed
Relation to Head of House: Head
Homemaker?: Yes
Home in 1930: Baker City, Baker, Oregon
Street Address: Bridge
Ward of City: 2
House Number: 141 rear
Radio Set: No
Lives on Farm: No
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father’s Birthplace: United States
Mother’s Birthplace: England
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Circulation manager
Industry: newspaper
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker
Employment: Yes
Household Members
A Whittaker: age 52, Head, widowed, born Texas, father born United States, mother born England
Zelda Whittaker: age 22, Daughter, born Oregon, father born Nevada, mother born Texas, bookkeeper for newspaper
Melvin Whittaker: age 19, Son, born Oregon, father born Nevada, mother born Texas, hosery salesman commercial
Thelma Whittaker: age 16, Daughter, born Oregon, father born Nevada, mother born Texas, salesgirl variety store
Edward Whittaker: age 15, Son, born Oregon, father born Nevada, mother born Texas, messenger boy for telegraph
Note: Ada’s father born in New York, mother born in Pennsylvania; children’s father born in Kansas

Apr 12, 1930: Federal Census, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California:
Chamberlin, Fred L.: head, age 54, widow, age 43 when married, born Kansas, father born New York, mother born Pennsylvania, night clerk in building materials.
Emily S.: mother, age 79, widow, married at 17, born Pennsylvania, no occupation, both parents born Pennsylvania, renting, $40 a month.
Note: Ada’s brother Fred is living with their mother Emily in Los Angeles

1932: U.S. City Directories, Baker City, Oregon:
Name: Ada A Whitaker
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1932
Residence Place: Baker City, Oregon
Occupation: Circ Mgr
Spouse: (wid Edward)
Publication Title: Baker City, Oregon, City Directory, 1932

1932-33: Oregon Motor Vehicle Registration:
Name: Ada Whitaker
Residence Date: 1932-33
Address 1353 Washington, Baker
Residence Place: Oregon

Jul 10, 1932: Death of Frederick Lucius “Fred” Whitaker (age 88), father of Edward Lawrence Whitaker, in the Sawtelle Disabled Veteran’s home (admitted in 1917 at age 74) in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California; senility and complications of a broken leg. Frederick, a Civil War Veteran in the Union Army, 10th Kansas Infantry, Co. B. Frederick is buried in the Los Angeles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California

Mar 11, 1934: Death of Nancy Irena “Irene” (Wakefield) Whitaker (age 87), mother of Edward Lawrence Whitaker, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California
Nancy is buried alongside her husband in the Los Angeles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California

1935: U.S. City Directories, Baker City, Oregon:
Name: Ada A Whitaker
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1935
Street Address: 1353 Washington av
Residence Place: Baker City, Oregon
Occupation: Circ Mgr
Spouse: (wid Edward)
Publication Title: Baker City, Oregon, City Directory, 1935

1937: U.S. City Directories, Baker City, Oregon:
Name: Ada A Whitaker
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1937
Street Address: 2841 College
Residence Place: Baker City, Oregon
Occupation: Circ Mgr
Spouse: (wid Edward)
Publication Title: Baker City, Oregon, City Directory, 1937

1939: U.S. City Directories, Baker City, Oregon:
Name: Ada A Whitaker
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1939
Street Address: 1926 Valley av apt 6
Residence Place: Baker City, Oregon
Occupation: Circ Mgr
Spouse: (wid Edward)
Publication Title: Baker City, Oregon, City Directory, 1939

May 22, 1939: Death of Howard James Chambers (age 40), the only child of “Doc” William James Chambers & Ada Agnes Chamberlin, at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Baker, Baker Co. Oregon, of leakage of the heart.

May 23, 1939: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Baker Co., Oregon:
H.J. CHAMBERS OF BAKER DIES
Native of Colorado Is Survived by Widow, Two Daughters
Howard James Chambers of Baker died yesterday afternoon at 4:30 in St. Elizabeth’s hospital after a lengthy illness.

Born December 6, 1898, in Cripple Creek, Colorado, Mr. Chambers moved to Oregon when but a small boy. He served in the United States army and navy for several years. He was a member of the Catholic church.

Mr. Chambers is survived by his widow (Jessie Chambers); two daughters Bonnie and Beatrice; his mother, Mrs. Ada Whitaker of Baker; three half sisters, Mrs. Vera Wright of Portland, Mrs. Tran Alfrey of Grant’s Pass and Mrs. Warren Spencer of Baker, and four half-brothers, Len Whitaker of Three Sisters, Donald and Edward Whitaker of Pasadena, and Melvin of Roseburg.

Rosary will be recited Wednesday night at 8:30 in the Baker Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Thursday morning at 9 o’clock in St. Francis cathedral with Father John D. Lee in charge. Interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery.

Feb 18, 1940: Death of Emily S. (Hoy) Chamberlin (age 89 yr, 6 mo), mother of Ada (Chamberlin) Whitaker, of chronic nephritis and acute uremia, at her home in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California. Emily is buried in Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California.

Feb 21, 1940: Photo of Emily Chamberlin’s five living children the day of her funeral in front of her home at 343 E. Gage Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Mamie (Chamberlin) Rosborough (age 53), Fred Chamberlin (age 65), Nellie (Chamberlin) Chatfield (age 67), Ada (Chamberlin) Whitaker (age 63), Willard “Joe” Chamberlin (age 50). Emily’s other son, Roy Valentine Chamberlin, died in 1923. She also had a daughter, Winnie, who died as a young girl, but some in the family only found out about her later.

Feb 1940: Chico Enterprise, Chico, Butte Co., California:
Chicoan Returns From Her Mother’s Funeral in L.A.
Chico—Mrs. N.C. Chatfield and her son, Roy, have returned from Los Angeles, where they were called because of the illness and death of Mrs. Chatfield’s mother, Mrs. Emily S. Chamberlin.
Mrs. Chamberlin was the widow of Finley Chamberlin, a Civil War veteran, who died in 1905. She was born in Howard, Penn., in 1850, and was the mother of seven children, five of whom are living. They are Mrs. Chatfield of this city, Mrs. Ada Whitaker of Oregon, Mrs. Mary Rosborough of Morton, Washington; Willard Chamberlin of Corvallis, Oregon, and Fred Chamberlin of Los Angeles, with whom she made her home.
The funeral was held in Los Angeles with Requiem mass in St. Columbkill’s Church. Mrs. Chamberlin had been a member of the Third Order of St. Francis for 30 years.

Apr 14, 1940: Federal Census, Baker, Baker Co., Oregon:
Name: Ada Whitaker
Respondent: Yes
Age: 63
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1877
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: Texas
Marital Status: Widowed
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1940: Baker, Baker, Oregon
Street: First
House Number: 2433
Inferred Residence in 1935: Baker, Baker, Oregon
Residence in 1935: Baker, Baker, Oregon
Occupation: Circulation Manager for newspaper Man
House Owned or Rented: Rented
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 10
Highest Grade Completed: High School, 1st year
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 44
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work
Weeks Worked in 1939: 32
Income: 1100

1940s: Ada (Chamberlin) Whitaker, Baker, Baker Co., Oregon:

1941: U.S. City Directories, Baker City, Oregon:
Name: Ada A Whitaker
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1941
Street Address: 2433 1st
Residence Place: Baker City, Oregon
Occupation: Circ Mgr
Spouse: (wid Edward)
Publication Title: Baker City, Oregon, City Directory, 1941

1941: Wright, Whitaker, Cahill and Alfrey family photo:

Neva Wright, unkn friend, Margie Whitaker, Russ & Vera Cahill, Jackie Wright, Zelda & Tran Alfrey
Children: Barbara Alfrey, Ardis Alfrey, Mary Alfrey, Claudette Wright
Taken at Len & Margie Whitaker’s home in Corbett, Oregon in 1941

Mar 1942: William James “Doc” Chambers becomes a patient at the St. Anne Sanitarium and remains there for five months until his death

Aug 21, 1942: Death of William James “Doc” Chambers (age 74), the 1st husband of Ada Agnes (Chamberlin) Whitaker, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California; of coronary arteriosclerosis and chronic myocarditis
Note: Ada kept in touch with Doc over the years as their son Howard lived with his father off and on. She visited her former husband in Los Angeles in 1942, shortly before his death.

Aug 21, 1942: California Death Index:
Name: William James Chambers
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 14 Nov 1867
Birth Place: New York
Death Date: 21 Aug 1942
Death Place: Los Angeles

Aug 24, 1942: California Death Certificate of William James “Doc” Chambers. The document confirms he is a retired M.D. and was a resident of California for 35 years and of Inglewood for 27 years. It also states he served in the World War (1914 – 1918), as does the 1930 census, though he would have been about 47 to 50 years of age. Both his parents were born in England, names his wife Nina at the time of his death, confirms his birth and death dates and places, his cause of death, and reveals his place of interment.

Aug 25, 1942: Cremation of William James “Doc” Chambers. He is interred in the Inglewood Park Cemetery (Mausoleum Century of Hope, niche 10) in Inglewood, Los Angeles Co., California.
Note: Further information on Ada Chamberlin & William James “Doc” Chambers is in a prior post. Doc was married five times and had two other children.

Headstones, Hearsay, and a Little History:
In the 1930s and ’40s, many of the Chatfield and Chamberlin clan visited at the Chatfield’s Boucher Street house in Chico. Grandma Nellie’s sisters, Mamie and Ada, came often to see Nellie. Nellie’s son Roy was their chauffeur, driving Aunt Ada, Aunt Mamie, and his mother in his black Terraplane around Chico and over to Sacramento to go shopping. Grandma was always glad to see her sisters. My sister Claudia was afraid of them. The first time she saw them at Grandma’s house they were dressed in long dark clothes and black hats; when the two aged women bent down to kiss her, my small ringlet-rimmed sister suspected they were witches—and flew from the room screaming. ~ Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau

Dec 14, 1943: Death of Melvin Lawrence Whitaker (age 32), the 5th of 7 children of Edward Lawrence “Ed” Whitaker & Ada Agnes Chamberlin. Melvin, a Navy Seaman 1st Class, took ill in New Guinea during WWII and died a few days later in the US Naval Hospital in New Zealand of food poisoning. He was buried, then re-interred in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Oahu, Hawaii.

Nov 19, 1948: Death of Gordon Gregory Chatfield (age 42), 6th of 10 children of Charles Henry Chatfield & Nellie Belle Chamberlin.

1949: Photo of Fred and his sister Ada (Chamberlin) Whitaker, Southern California:

Circa 1950: Ada (Chamberlin) Whitaker in middle, with granddaughters, Ardis and Barbara Alfrey:

Feb 19, 1952: Letter from Ada Whitaker (age 74) to her granddaughter Suzy Spencer (age 12):
2-19-52
My dear Suzy.—
Thank you for the nice letter you wrote me & I am so pleased that you are taking so much interest in your music. Keep it up, my dear, you will never be sorry. It is something you can be very proud of, I mean a musical education.

How about your chickens. Are they laying & what do you get for the eggs? I bought some last week for 47 cents a doz, the cheapest in a long time.

I have several flowers in bloom but I don’t know the names of all but there are some beautiful Calla Lilies on the northside of the house & pretty daffodils. It won’t be long until my sweet peas will be blooming. Some people across the street have some tree roses & beautiful climbing roses all in bloom. Things are not growing very fast as it has been to cold at night.

It is so cold when I go to Mass each morning & the church is so cold so I am wearing the same clothes I did two months ago. This has been an off year for us here.

Last month the school children were selling doughnuts & last week the Girl Scouts were selling cookies & were both real good.

I will ask you to excuse so many bad mistakes I have made, it is a little difficult to listen to the news & write at the same time. Our radio goes constantly as Uncle Fred (Ada’s brother) can’t see to read & it is the only amusement he has.

Tell Brian (Suzy’s 13-year-old brother) good for him for the points he made on that game. I think that was wonderful.

Tell all I know hello & give all of the family my love & keep heaps for yourself & God bless all. (I will put this programe away with my grandmother keepsakes)
Note: Ada is living with her brother Fred in Monterey Park, Los Angeles Co., Calif. She came to care for him around 1949 until he dies in 1955. Suzy lives in Baker, Oregon.

Jun 30, 1952: Letter from Ada Whitaker (age 74) to her granddaughter Suzy Spencer (age 12) who lives in Baker, Oregon:
6-30-52
My dear Suzy—
Will drop you a card to tell you I will be seeing you next month if nothing happens in the meantime to prevent it.
I intend to stop & see Aunt Nellie on my way north so do not know the exact date that I will reach Baker.
I was afraid I was not going to make it but will now, so will be seeing you soon I hope.
Love to all,
Grandmother
Note: Aunt Nellie is Ada’s sister, Nellie Chatfield, who lives in Chico, Butte Co., California

1952: Photo of Mamie Rosborough (age 65) with her sister Ada Whitaker (age 74) during a visit in Baker, Oregon

Sep 21, 1952: Mamie (Chamberlin) Rosborough & Ada (Chamberlin) Whitaker:

Sep 24, 1952: the Chamberlin sisters, Mamie, Ada, Nellie at Nellie’s house in Chico, California:

Note: The first time I saw this photo I nearly fell off my chair. How could I have not known that my grandmother Nellie Chatfield had sisters?!?
It was what precipitated my journey on compiling this Chatfield history. And here you have it. Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau, 5th of 5 children of Noreen (Chatfield) Clemens and the granddaughter of Nellie (Chamberlin) Chatfield (my mother’s mother).

Jul 14, 1953: Letter from Ada Whitaker (age 75) to granddaughter Suzy Spencer (age 13):
7-14-53
My dear Suzy.—
It has been too miserably hot to even write. All one can do is to sit & wipe one’s face. We have had over 90° weather for the past ten days & they don’t tell us it will make any change very soon.

Say Honey did Tommy Knight drive out to see you people when he was in Baker not long ago?

Well dear how are you getting along with your housework & did you have a good July 4th? We stayed at home, as usual, tho they had a number of different kind of amusements quite near but I never care to go anyplace by myself.

Had a letter from Aunt Vera last week & she said they had the heat turned off only twice this year, just now that sounds good to me.

What is Brian doing with himself this vacation?

Too bad some of the boys from Baker could not have joined this outfit of boys from hundreds of places & are now down at Newport beach. They will be here two weeks, over 5,000 of them & according to the paper they are showing them a wonderful time. Here is hoping they get home safe & sound.

July 15— Had a letter from Aunt Mamie today, was so glad to get her letter, it is so good to get letters here as it gets quite lonesome so far from all one loves.

Aug 4, 1955: Death of Frederick Lawrence “Fred” Chamberlin (age 80), brother of Ada (Chamberlin) Whitaker, in Los Angeles Co. California. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Los Angeles, California alongside his brother Roy and two graves over from his mother, Emily.

Jan 2, 1956: Death of Nellie Belle (Chamberlin) Chatfield (age 82), sister of Ada (Chamberlin) Whitaker, in Chico, Butte Co., California. Nellie is buried in the Catholic section of Chico Cemetery in Chico, Butte Co., California.

Jan 3, 1956: Chico Enterprise, Chico, Butte Co., California:
Nellie Chatfield
Recitation of the rosary will be held in the Brusie Funeral Home this evening at 8 o’clock for Mrs. Nellie Chatfield, who died at her home on Boucher Street Monday.

Mrs. Chatfield was born on Mar 7, 1873 in Kansas City, Mo., to Frank and Emma Chamberlin. She resided in Chico in the same house the entire time. Mrs. Chatfield was a charter member of the Catholic Ladies relief society.

She is survived by eight children: Charles J., of South San Francisco; Leo W., of Camptonville; Mrs. Nellie McElhiney, of Oakland; Arden, of Yountville; Mrs. Ina Fouch, of Yuba City; Mrs. Ray Hayknee, of San Jose; and Roy E. and Mrs. Verda Day, both of Chico; a brother, Willard Chamberlin of Corvallis, Ore., two sisters, Mrs. Ada Whitaker and Mrs. Mamie Rosborough, both of Baker, Ore. 21 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Chatfield lost a son, Gordon in World War II and another son, Howard, three months ago.

At 9:50 a.m. Wednesday the cortege will proceed to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church where requiem mass will be offered for the repose of the soul. Those who desire may have masses said in lieu of flowers.

1959: U.S. City Directories, Baker City, Oregon:
Name: Ada A Whitaker
Residence Year: 1959
Street Address: 710 Valley av
Residence Place: Baker, Oregon
Publication Title: Baker City, Oregon, City Directory, 1959

Jul 15, 1960: Death of Ada Agnes (Chamberlin) Whitaker (age 82), the 3rd of 6 children of Finley McLaren “Frank” Chamberlin & Emily S. Hoy in Baker, Baker Co., Oregon; of pneumonia.

Ada’s children at her funeral: Vera, Edward, Donald, Len, Thelma, Zelda:

Note: Two of Ada’s sons, Howard Chambers and Melvin Whitaker, are deceased

As I Was Told:
At her funeral, her friends referred to her as Mrs. Whitaker. Always a lady, she only answered to Mother, Grandmother or Mrs. Whitaker, never by her first name. Even her son-in-laws referred to her as Mrs. Whitaker. She always wore long sleeves, gloves, and brimmed hats. Ada, Mrs. Whitaker that is, was also very Catholic, and like both her sisters, if she could get there, went to mass every day of her life.

Jul 1960: Democrat Herald, Baker, Baker Co., Oregon:
— Obituaries —
ADA AGNES WHITAKER
Ada Agnes Whitaker, 82, 1710 Valley Ave., died Friday evening at St. Elizabeth Hospital.

The rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. today at West and Co. Chapel and mass will be said at 10 a.m. Tuesday, at St. Francis Cathedral. Father Charles Young will officiate and burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery.

Mrs. Whitaker, daughter of Lawrence (sic Frank) and Emily Chamberlain, was born in Ft. Worth, Tex., on Nov. 6, 1877. She married Edward L. Whitaker in Grand Junction, Colo., in 1902 and they moved to Baker County that same year. Mr. Whitaker died in 1915.
Mrs. Whitaker moved to Baker in 1917 and served as circulation manager for the Democrat Herald for 27 years. She was a member of the Catholic Church.

Survivors are three sons, Leonard of Roseburg, Ore.; Donald of Santa Paula, Calif.; and Edward of Arcadia, Calif.; three daughters, Vera Gillette of Seaside, Ore., Zelda Alfrey of Portland and Thelma Spencer of Baker; a brother Dr. W.J. Chamberlain of Corvallis; a sister, Mrs. T.H. Rosborough of Baker; 18 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

Jul 15, 1960: Oregon Death Index:
Name: Ada A Whitaker
Death Date: 15 Jul 1960
Death Place: Baker
Spouse: Edward
Certificate: 8362

Burial of Ada Agnes (Chamberlin) Whitaker, in Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker, Baker Co., Oregon

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Parents of Edward Lawrence “Ed” Whitaker: Nancy Irena “Irene” Wakefield & Frederick Lucius “Fred” Whitaker

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Frederick Lucius “Fred” Whitaker
Son of Stephen Lyman Whitaker & Emeline Kentfield
Born: Jan 12, 1844, Cabotville, Hampden Co., Massachusetts
Died: Jul 10, 1932 (age 88), Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California; complications from broken leg, senility, in the Sawtelle Disabled Veteran’s home in Los Angeles
Buried: Los Angeles National Cemetery, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California
Military: Civil War, Union Army, 10th Kansas Infantry, Co. B
Occupation: Cook in silver mine, mine owner, farmer, stockman, freight agent for the railroad
Married: Apr 6, 1865, Nancy Irena “Irene” Wakefield, Pardee, Atchison Co., Kansas
Five children: Nellie R. “Pink” Whitaker, William L. Whitaker, James Lucius “Lennie” Whitaker, Edward Lawrence “Ed” Whitaker, Franklin D. “Frank” Whitaker

Nancy Irena “Irene” Wakefield
Daughter of Washington Wakefield & Rebecca Bankson
Born: Feb 12, 1847, Milan, Erie Co., Ohio
Died: Mar 11, 1934 (age 87), Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California
Buried: Los Angeles National Cemetery, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California
Occupation: Dressmaker
Married: Apr 6, 1865, Frederick Lucius “Fred” Whitaker, Pardee, Atchison Co., Kansas
Five children: Nellie R. “Pink” Whitaker, William L. Whitaker, James Lucius “Lennie” Whitaker, Edward Lawrence “Ed” Whitaker, Franklin D. “Frank” Whitaker

1. Nellie R. “Pink” Whitaker
Born: Apr 10, 1866, Pardee, Atchison Co., Kansas
Died: Jan 31, 1875 (age 8), Pardee, Atchison Co., Kansas
Buried: Pardee Cemetery in Cummings, Atchison Co., Kansas

2. William L. Whitaker
Born: Apr 10, 1869, Baker, Oregon
Died: Nov 2, 1943 (age 74), Siskiyou Co., California
Buried: Linkville Pioneer Cemetery in Klamath Falls, Klamath Co., Oregon,
Married (1): Jul 11, 1894, Julia Bell Long, Union Co., Ohio
One Child: Clarissa Whitaker
(Julia Bell Long:
Born: 1878, Union, Union Co., Oregon
Died: bef 1900 census)

Married (2): Jan 4, 1904, Lillian Mamie “Mae” Green, Baker, Baker Co., Oregon
Divorced: 1918, Baker Co., Oregon
Three children: Lois Paula Whitaker, Albert William Whitaker, Gladies Edna Whitaker
(Lillian Mamie “Mae” Green:
Daughter of William Arthur Green & Harriet Tibbs
Born: Sep 10, 1886, Minnesota
Died: Aug 19, 1977 (age 90), Baker City, Baker Co., Oregon
Buried: Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City, Baker Co., Oregon
Occupation: Cook in logging camps
Married (1): Jan 4, 1904, William L. Whitaker, Baker, Baker Co., Oregon
Divorced: 1918, Baker Co., Oregon
Three children: Lois Paula Whitaker, Albert William Whitaker, Gladies Edna Whitaker
Married (2): 1920, George Donaldson, Sr., Baker, Baker Co., Oregon
No children)

3. James Lucius “Lennie” Whitaker
Born: Sep 20, 1871, Pardee, Atchison Co., Kansas
Died: Dec 24, 1893 (age 22), Colorado
Buried: unkn

4. Edward Lawrence “Ed” Whitaker
Born: Jul 4, 1874, Pardee, Atchison Co., Kansas
Died: May 26, 1915 (age 41), Spokane, Spokane Co., Washington
Buried: Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker, Baker Co., Oregon
Married: Apr 22, 1902, Ada Agnes (Chamberlin) Chambers, Grand Junction, Mesa Co., Colorado
Seven children: Vera Stanislaus Whitaker, Leonard Fenley “Len” Whitaker, Zelda Beatrice Whitaker, Donald Edward Whitaker, Melvin Lawrence Whitaker, Thelma Marie Whitaker, Edward Joseph Whitaker

5. Franklin D. “Frank” Whitaker
Born: Jul 6, 1877, Mesa, Mesa Co., Colorado
Died: Sep 26, 1947 (age 70), Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California
Buried: unkn
Married (1): Aug 25, 1900, Lillian Emma “Lillie” Murray, Union Co., Oregon
One child: Roy Franklin Whitaker
Married (2): Jan 11, 1911, Emma Louise Fitzer, Spokane, Spokane Co., Washington
One child: Eleanor Irene Whitaker

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2020. Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau and Gordon Clemens. Thank you to all those in this wing of the Chamberlin line for their contributions of stories and photos.

Note: The cemetery and headstone pictures are from Find A Grave and are the property of those who photographed them.

WCGS (World Chamberlain Genealogical Society)