Roy Chamberlin & Irene Schaller

FAMILY LINE AND HISTORY

Roy Valentine Chamberlin
4th of 6 children of Finley McLaren “Frank” Chamberlin & Emily S. Hoy
Born: Aug 22, 1881, Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., Texas
Died: Nov 19, 1923 (age 42), Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California; pernicious anemia
Buried: Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California
Occupation: Salesman, store manager for Hayes Supply Co.
Married: Jan 28, 1914, Mary Irene “Irene” Schaller, Rapid City, Pennington Co., South Dakota
One child: Harold Valentine Chamberlin

Mary Irene “Irene” Schaller
1st of 4 children of William Christian Schaller & Katherine “Katie” Muench
aka: Irene Mary Schaller
Born: Apr 7, 1893, Salem, McCook Co., South Dakota
Died: Nov 17, 1970 (age 77), Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Co., California; colon/bone cancer
Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, Los Angeles, California
Occupation: Stenographer; worked for auto agency, professional pianist, owned Frostee ice cream stand in 1953 in Paradise, Butte Co., California
Married (1): Jan 28, 1914, Roy Valentine Chamberlin, Rapid City, Pennington Co., South Dakota
One child: Harold Valentine Chamberlin
Married (2): Jul 8, 1929, Harry Emmett Donahoe, South Gate, Los Angeles Co., California
Two children: Esther Katherine Donahoe, Maura Jeanne Donahoe

1. Harold Valentine Chamberlin
Only child of Roy Valentine Chamberlin & Mary Irene “Irene” Schaller
Born: Feb 20, 1918, Walnut Park, Los Angeles Co., California
Died: Jul 11, 1971 (age 53), Maywood, Los Angeles Co., California; lung cancer
Buried: All Souls Catholic Cemetery in Long Beach, Los Angeles Co., California
Occupation: Firestone factory worker, driver/dispatcher for Willig Freight Lines
Avocation: Fishing, pheasant hunting, rock collecting
Married: Dec 6, 1941, Dorothy Virginia “Dot” Babbitt (birth father) McManus (stepfather), in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California
Two sons: Ronald Roy Chamberlin, Michael Harold Chamberlin

(Harry Emmett Donahoe:
Son of Stephen Donahoe & Esther Williams and 2nd husband of Mary Irene “Irene” (Schaller) Chamberlin
Born: Feb 24, 1884, Sioux Falls, Minnehaha Co., South Dakota
Died: Oct 9, 1949 (age 65), Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California; heart attack
Buried: Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles Cemetery, Los Angeles Co., California
Occupation: Dentist
Married (1): Sep 1, 1909, Marie F. Norton, Sioux Falls, Minnehaha Co., South Dakota
One child: Stephen Norton “Steve” Donahoe
(Marie F. Norton:
Daughter of John F. Norton & Catherine unkn
Born: May 1887, South Dakota
Died: Jun 19, 1924 (age 37), Sioux Falls, Minnehaha Co., South Dakota; breast cancer
Buried: Saint Michael’s Cemetery in Sioux Falls, Minnehaha Co., South Dakota
Married (2): Jul 8, 1929, Mary Irene “Irene” (Schaller) Chamberlin, South Gate, Los Angeles Co., California
Two children: Esther Katherine “Katherine” Donahoe, Maura Jeanne Donahoe)

**********
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

Four children of William Christian Schaller & Catherine “Katie” Muench:
1. Mary “Irene” Schaller
1893 – 1970
2. Joseph William Schaller
1900 – 1964
3. John Phillip Schaller
1904 – 1986
4. Elizabeth Agnes Schaller
1911 – 1948

**********

Aug 22, 1881: Birth of Roy Valentine Chamberlin, 4th of 6 children of Finley McLaren “Frank” Chamberlin & Emily S. Hoy, in Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., Texas.

Sep 1883: Frank (age 38) and Emily (age 33) Chamberlin move to Savanna, Carroll Co., Illinois, a 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).

• 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

Apr 7, 1893: Birth of Mary Irene “Irene” Schaller, 1st of 4 children of William Christian Schaller & Katherine “Katie” Muench, in Salem, McCook Co., South Dakota.

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.

1897: Frank & Emily Chamberlin children, 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)

Jun 5, 1900: Federal Census for 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. 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 she 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 11, 1900: Federal Census for Steamboat Springs, Routt Co., Colorado:
Schaller, William: head, born Dec 1865, age 34, married 8 years, born Missouri, father born Germany, mother born Germany, miller/grist, owns farm, 110 farm animals
Schaller, Katie: wife, born Oct 1872, married 8 years, 1 child born, 1 child living, born Missouri, father born Germany, mother born Germany
Schaller, Irene M: daughter, born Apr 1893, age 7, born South Dakota, father born Missouri, mother born Missouri, at school

May 19, 1905: Letter from Frank Chamberlin (age 59) to his son, Willard Chamberlin (age 15):
Sawtelle, Calif
May 19, 1905
Dear Son Willard.
I haven’t much to write as usual. The weather here is foggy every morning & I don’t think that is very healthy. I feel fairly well except I have a bad cold & have some bad spells coughing nearly tares the insides out of me. I got a couple of Roy’s pictures a few days ago & I think they are fine & he is fine looking & I guess he is as fine as he looks.

One of the Philipene soldiers here shot himself last Monday. Think he had been drinking pretty hard & guess he was bug house.

I suppose you have more hay than you will need to feed. What is it worth a ton there. There is a fine crop here, but it is the first good crop for several years, how much stock have you got to feed, well you have got quite a collection of bird eggs, how are your chickens coming on, do you have any water for irrigation. They are finishing the work on new electric line & they have begun building on the new town site.

Guess that’s all there is to write this time.
Love from your Father
FC
Note: Frank’s sons mentioned in the above letter, Willard “Joe” (at left below) and Roy (at right)

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 where 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

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

Aug 11, 1905: The Rifle Telegram, Rifle, Garfield Co., Colorado:
Died
Mr. Frank Chamberlin, who has been visiting his daughter, Mrs. Chas. Chatfield, died very suddenly Wednesday afternoon at 6 o’clock. His demise so unexpectedly was a great shock to his daughter and family. In the morning Mr. Chamberlin attempted to go down town, but was overcome by an attack of dizziness when in front of Munro’s store. He was assisted home and after a rest became considerably better.

About 4 o’clock in the afternoon he was seized with another sinking spell and in spite of all the physician could do he passed away an hour later.

Mr. Chamberlin has been troubled some years with catarrh of the stomach and while in poor health none of his family or friends anticipated his sudden death. The deceased was a member of the Order of the Railway Conductors, Division 338, but had not been in active service for some time.

Mrs. Chatfield had not seen her father for eleven years.

He had been making his home in Fruita lately and was intending to go north with his daughter and family. Besides his daughter Mrs. Chatfield, he leaves a son Roy in Denver and several sons and daughters in Los Angeles, Calif. Owing to the distance it is not likely that any of the latter can be present at the funeral which will be held this afternoon at 2 o’clock. Rev. Low Thomas will have charge of the services. The sympathy of the entire community is extended to Mrs. Chatfield and the other relatives to whom has come this sudden blow.
Note: His wife Emily, living in Los Angeles, California, is not mentioned in the obituary

Dec 25, 1906: Photo of Fred, Charles Chatfield, Willard, Rafty baby, and Roy:

Brothers: Fred Chamberlin, brother-in-law Charles H. Chatfield (Nellie’s husband), Willard Chamberlin, baby Rafty baby, Roy Chamberlin

Sep 1, 1909: Marriage of Harry Emmett Donahoe & Marie F. Norton in Minnehaha Co., South Dakota
Note: His 1st marriage; Harry is the future 2nd husband of Mary “Irene” Schaller.

Apr 27, 1910: Federal Census for Nelson Township, Yavapai Co., Arizona:
Chamberlin, Roy V: boarder, age 29, single, born Texas, father born New York, mother born Pennsylvania, bookkeeper for RR Co

May 4, 1910: Federal Census for West, Meade Co., South Dakota:
Name: William C Schaller (father of Mary Irene “Irene” Schaller)
Age in 1910: 44
Birth Year: abt 1866
Birthplace: Minnesota
Home in 1910: West, Meade, South Dakota
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse’s Name: Katherine Schaller
Father’s Birthplace: Germany
Mother’s Birthplace: Germany
Native Tongue: English
Occupation: Farmer
Industry: Homestead
Employer, Employee or Other: Own Account
Home Owned or Rented: Own
Home Free or Mortgaged: Free
Farm or House: Farm
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Years Married: 18
Household Members:
William C Schaller: age 44, Head, married 18 yrs, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany (father of Mary Irene “Irene” Schaller)
Katherine Schaller: age 38, Wife, married 18 yrs, 3 children born, 3 living, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany (mother of Mary Irene “Irene” Schaller)
Mathew Schaller: age 17, Daughter, born South Dakota, father born Minnesota, mother born Minnesota (Mary Irene Schaller)
Joseph W Schaller: age 9, Son, born Colorado, father born Minnesota, mother born Minnesota
John P Schaller: age 5 Son, born Colorado, father born Minnesota, mother born Minnesota

circa 1910 – 1913: Photo of Roy Chamberlin, far right, with friends and his mother Emily:

Mother Chamberlin (Emily), friend Mrs. Simms, Lizzie (presumable girlfriend of Roy), and Roy, sitting in their dress clothes on a sandy California beach.

Jan 28, 1914: Marriage of Roy Valentine Chamberlin (age 33) & Mary Irene “Irene” Schaller (age 21), in Rapid City, Pennington Co., South Dakota, Irene’s home state. Roy is living in Williams, Coconino Co., Arizona working for Home Supply. Meeting by the railroad tracks, he sold to the Navaho household items, dishes, etc., or traded for their rugs, water jars, pottery, and beautiful handwoven baskets.

As I Was Told:
My mother always went by Irene. She and Roy were married January 28, 1914 in Rapid City, South Dakota. They lived in Williams, Arizona for 3 years and then the company transferred them to Los Angeles. Of course, I never knew Roy but I remember my mother speaking very lovingly of him. She said he always brought her little gifts or flowers. Irene was very impressed with the way Roy dressed. Upon first meeting him she thought he was very handsome with a pearl stickpin in his tie and a black fedora. He was a dresser, and whenever he had his picture taken he wore a suit coat and tie with his hat. He affectionately called Irene “Skeeter.” Roy raised pheasants and when he was away she would feed the pheasants maggots with tweezers. Now that is really love!
Contributed by Maura Jeanne (Donahoe) Pezzati, daughter of Irene Schaller & Harry Donahoe

Jul 12, 1915: Letter from Fred Chamberlin (age 40), Roy’s brother, to his mother Emily (age 65):
Edwards, Colo
July 12 – 15
Dear Mother
I received your letter yesterday & I was sure tickled to know you were coming for sure for I thot when I wrote you about the place you might back out. I am very busy but if some one doesn’t come along that I can send this letter to the office by, I will take it myself in a day or so. No I haven’t a butter ladle & wish you would get one. I have been using a big bowl & a big spoon to work my butter. I am glad you had no trouble in selling your goods & hope you get here by the 5th of next month as I expect to start haying about then & I would like to have a little visit with you before I start & it would be hard to do that if I had men here & then there is always so much to do.

Yes there are a few deers here but the timber is so thick it is hard to ever see one but there are lots of grouse & they will be just about big enough to eat good when you get here. You seem to think a good deal of Irene so if I were you I should visit her for a few days before coming here if you want to go way round that way. You talk as if you were rich just because you sold those notes. How much did you lose on them? You want to be sure & give the last conductor or porter you ride with before you reach Edwards your baggage check & tell them to see that it is put off here. If you don’t as there is no agent here they will carry it by. Better ship your goods to me as the agent at Avon knows me & will notify me as soon as they come. I expect it will take three weeks for them to get through as they will come by local freight.

I am just like a little kid. I cant hardly wait for you to get here. Hoping it will be soon & that you get here safe & sound & well.
I will close with love.
Fred
Note: Irene is Emily’s daughter-in-law, Irene Schaller, married to Emily’s son, Roy

May 1917: Mamie (Chamberlin) Rosborough w/daughters Mildred and Arlene, niece Vera Whitaker, and brother Roy Chamberlin, Los Angeles, California:

May 1917: Irene (Schaller) Chamberlin (age 24), Mildred Rosborough (age 4), Vera Whitaker (age 13), Arlene Rosborough (age 3), Roy Chamberlin (age 35):

Roy Chamberlin with his mother Emily, in Los Angeles, California:

Sep 1917: Irene (Schaller) Chamberlin on proch steps:

Note: Irene is standing in front of this Craftsman-style house and probably her mother-in-law, Emily Chamberlin at the right.
The address may be 3438 E. Sixth Street in Los Angeles. Roy and Irene’s son Harold was born five months later.

Feb 20, 1918: Birth of Harold Valentine Chamberlin, the only child of Roy Valentine Chamberlin & Irene Schaller, in Walnut Park, Los Angeles Co., California.

1918: Emily (Hoy) Chamberlin, her daughter-in-law Irene (Schaller), and  grandchild Harold:

Note: Bottom of picture reads: Mother Chamberlin, baby Harold & Mother
Side of picture reads: Walnut Park, CA. Nothing but love in this picture

Jul 25, 1918: Birth of Stephen Norton Donahoe, the only child of Harry Emmett Donahoe & Marie F. Norton, in Sioux Falls, Minnehaha Co., South Dakota.

Sep 12, 1918: WWI Draft Registration Card, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California:
NAME: Roy Valentine Chamberlin
PERMANENT ADDRESS: 3438 E. Sixth Street, L.A., L.A. County, Cal
AGE: 37
DATE OF BIRTH: Aug 22, 1881
PRESENT OCCUPATION: Manager
EMPLOYER’S NAME: M.P. Hayes
PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT: Hayes Supply Co. 4th & Santa Fe ave., L.A.
NEAREST RELATIVE: Wife, Mary Irene Chamberlin
ADDRESS: 3438 E. Sixth Street, L.A., L.A. County, Cal
HEIGHT: Medium
BUILD: Slender
COLOR OF EYES: Grey
COLOR OF HAIR: White

Jan 22, 1920: Federal Census for San Antonio Precinct, Los Angeles Co., California:
Chamberlin, Roy V: head, owns, age 38, married, born Texas, father born New York, mother born Pennsylvania, manager of a store
Irene: wife, age 27, born South Dakota, father born Minnesota, mother born Minnesota
Harold V: son, age 1 yr 1 mo, born California, father born Texas, mother born South Dakota
Note: Home address is 199 Hope Street, Los Angeles Co., California

Jan 24, 1920: Federal Census for Raymond, Clark Co., South Dakota:
Name: W C Schaller (William Christian Schaller,  father of Mary Irene “Irene” Schaller)
Age: 54
Birth Year: abt 1866
Birthplace: Minnesota
Home in 1920: Raymond, Clark, South Dakota
House Number: Farm
Residence Date: 1920
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse’s Name: Katie Schaller
Father’s Birthplace: Hesse
Mother’s Birthplace: Ohio
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Farmer
Industry: General Farm
Employment Field: Own Account
Home Owned or Rented: Owned
Home Free or Mortgaged: Mortgaged
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members, Age, Relationship:
W C Schaller: age 54, Head, born Minnesota, father born Hessian German, mother born Ohio (William Christian Schaller, father of Mary Irene “Irene” Schaller)
Katie Schaller: age 47, Wife, born Minnesota, father born Bavaria German, mother born Bavaria German (mother of Mary Irene “Irene” Schaller)
Joseph Schaller: age 19, Son, born Colorado, father born Minnesota, mother born Minnesota
Philip Schaller: age 15, Son, born Colorado, father born Minnesota, mother born Minnesota
Elizabeth Schaller: age 8, Daughter, born South Dakota, father born Minnesota, mother born Minnesota

Photo: Emily Chamberlin with sons Fred and Roy on the front steps of Roy’s house in Walnut Park, California

As I Was Told:
I remember Roy’s brother Fred Chamberlin who was eight years older than Roy. He wore old-fashioned lace-up boots and smoked a lot. Roy’s son Harold was very fond of his uncle Fred, as his father died when he was five. They always had a good time, joking and laughing.
The family respectfully referred to Emily (Roy’s mother) as “Mother Chamberlin.”
by Katherine (Donahoe) Robles, daughter of Irene Schaller & Harry Donahoe

Jan 3, 1920: Federal Census for Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California:
Chamberlin, Emily S.: head, age 69, widow, born Pennsylvania, father born Pennsylvania, mother born Pennsylvania (mother of Roy Chamberlin)
Fred. L.: son, age 43, single, born Kansas, father born New York, mother born Pennsylvania, laborer on (?) farm (brother of Roy Chamberlin)
Note: Census has last names transcribed as Unambeer and again as Chambers

Roy & Irene Chamberlin’s home at 199 Hope Street in Walnut Park, Los Angeles Co., California:

1920: Index to Register of Voters, San Antonio Precinct No. 1, Los Angeles Co., California:
Chamberlin, Roy V, mgr, 199 Hope st,   DS

Mar 1, 1920: Photo of Emily (Hoy) Chamberlin (age 60 yrs, 9 mos) at her son Roy’s house, Walnut Park, California:

Mar 1, 1920: Harold Valentine Chamberlin (age 2) w/mother Irene (Schaller) Chamberlin (age 27) on their porch in Walnut Park, California

1922: Index to Register of Voters, San Antonio Precinct No. 1, Los Angeles Co., California:
Chamberlain, Mrs. Irene hswf, 199 Hope st, R
Chamberlin, Roy V, str mgr, 199 Hope st, DS

Jun 28, 1923: Letter from Roy Chamberlin to his wife Irene, penned five months before his death:

Nov 19, 1923: Death of Roy Valentine Chamberlin (age 41), 4th of 6 children of Finley McLaren “Frank” Chamberlin and Emily S. Hoy, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California, in an ambulance on the way to the hospital; of pernicious anemia.

Note: The medication from his pernicious anemia caused Roy to lose his dark hair and it all grew back white. He must have suffered for some time as on his 1918 WWI Draft Card, he states his hair is white.

Note: Pernicious anemia is severe anemia usually affecting older adults, caused by a failure of the stomach to absorb vitamin B12, characterized by abnormally large red blood cells, gastrointestinal disturbances, and lesions of the spinal cord.

Nov 1923: Burial of Roy Valentine Chamberlin at Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California

Jun 19, 1924: Death of  Marie F. (Norton) Donahoe (age 37), the 1st wife of Harry Emmett Donahoe, in Sioux Falls, Minnehaha Co., South Dakota; breast cancer. Marie is buried in Saint Michael’s Cemetery in Sioux Falls, Minnehaha Co., South Dakota.

1926: Index to Register of Voters: Walnut Park Precinct No. 4, Los Angeles Co., California:
Chamberlain, Mrs. Irene, 199 Hope st, stngr, Rep

1928: Index to Register of Voters: Walnut Park Precinct No. 6, Los Angeles Co., California:
Chamberlain, Mrs. Irene, 199 Hope st, stngrphr, Rep

Jul 9, 1929: California Marriage Record:
Name: Mary I Chamberlin
Gender: Female
Event Type: Marriage
Marriage Date: 9 Jul 1929 (Jul 8, 1929)
Marriage Place: Los Angeles, California
Spouse: Harry E Donahoe

Jul 2, 1929: The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California (pg 24):
VITAL RECORD Intention to Marry

Jul 8, 1929: Marriage of Mary “Irene” (Schaller) Chamberlin (age 36) & Harry Emmett Donahoe (age 45), in South Gate, Los Angeles Co., California, a second marriage for both.
Note: Harry has a nearly 11-year-old son, Stephen Norton Donahoe born Sep 25, 1918, by his first wife Marie F. Norton, who died from breast cancer in 1924 when Stephen was 6. Irene and Harry will have two daughters together, Esther Katherine Donahoe and Maura Jeanne Donahoe.

Jul 8, 1929: Wedding photo of Irene (Schaller) Chamberlin and Harry Emmett Donahoe:

unkn woman, Irene’s sister Elizabeth, Irene’s brother Joseph, unkn, Harry, Irene, Irene’s parents, Fred Chamberlin, Emily Hoy
children in front: Steve Donahoe (Emmet’s son), Harold V. Chamberlin (Irene’s son), unkn girl

Jul 14, 1929: Argus-Leader, Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls Co., South Dakota (pg 10):

Apr 3, 1930: Federal Census for Sioux Falls, Minnehaha Co., South Dakota:
Donahoe, Harry E: head, owns, age 46, age at 1st marriage 26, born South Dakota, father born Canada English, mother born Iowa, proprietor dentist
Irene: wife, age 36, age at 1st marriage 19, born South Dakota, father born Minnesota, mother born Minnesota
Stephen: son, age 11, born South Dakota, father born South Dakota, mother born South Dakota (step-brother of Harold Chamberlin)
Chamberlin, Harold V: son, age 12, born California, father born Texas, mother born South Dakota

Jul 1931: Birth of Esther Katherine “Katherine” Donahoe, 1st of 2 children of Irene Mary Schaller & Harry Emmett Donahoe, in Sioux Falls Co., South Dakota.

1931: Photo of Harold Chamberlin (age 13), holding his infant half-sister Katherine Donahoe:

Sep 25, 1932: Birth of Maura Jeanne Donahoe, 2nd of 2 children of Irene Mary Schaller Schaller & Harry Emmett Donahoe, in Sioux Falls Co., South Dakota.

1936: Stephen Norton “Steve” Donahoe, (step-brother of Harold Chamberlin), Washington High School annual, Sioux Falls, South Dakota:

1936: Harold Valentine Chamberlin, Washington High School senior year photo:

circa 1936: Harold Valentine Chamberlin, back of photo reads “Harold in Sioux Falls probably 17 or 18 years old.”

1938: Index to Register of Voters, Los Angeles Precinct No. 1430, Los Angeles Co., California:
Donahoe, Harry E, 406 S Citrus av, dentist, Rep
Donahoe, Mrs. Mary Irene, 406 S Citrus av, housewife, Rep 
Note: Irene now goes by her given name of Mary throughout the following records

1940: Index to Register of Voters, Los Angeles Precinct No. 1430, Los Angeles Co., California:
Donahoe, Harry E, 406 S Citrus av, dentist, Rep
Donahoe, Mrs. Mary Irene, 406 S Citrus av. housewife, Rep

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

Feb 21, 1940: Picture of Emily Chamberlin’s five living children, taken the day after 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 son, Roy Valentine Chamberlin, died in 1923.

Apr 18, 1940: Federal Census for Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California:
Name: Mary Donahoe (Mary Irene (Shaller) Donahoe)
Age: 47
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1893
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: South Dakota
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Home in 1940: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
Map of Home in 1940: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
Street: So Citrus
House Number: 406
Inferred Residence in 1935: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Residence in 1935: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Resident on farm in 1935: No
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: High School, 1st year
Household Members:
Harry Donahoe: age 55, Head, born South Dakota, Dentist
Mary Donahoe: age 47, Wife, born South Dakota (Mary Irene (Schaller) Chamberlin Donahoe)
Stephen Donahoe: age 21, Son, born South Dakota
Esther Donahoe: age 8, Daughter, born South Dakota
Maura Donahoe: age 7, Daughter, born South Dakota
Harold Chamberlin: age 22, Stepson, born California, works tire service

Dec 6, 1941: Marriage of Harold Valentine Chamberlin & Dorothy Virginia “Dot” Babbitt, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California

1942: 50th wedding anniversary of Irene’s parents, William Christian Schaller & Catherine “Katie” (Muench) Schaller:

1942: Mary “Irene” (Schaller) Donahoe, her brother Phillip, parents Kate and William Schaller, her sister Elizabeth:

1943/44: Chamberlin-Schaller family:


Note: as Ronny was born in June 1942, the date 1942 in the bottom corner of the photo must be off by a year or so

1944: Index to Register of Voters, Los Angeles Precinct No. 1430, Los Angeles Co., California:
Donahoe, Harry E, 406 S Citrus av, dentist, Rep
Donahoe, Mrs. Mary Irene, 406 S Citrus av, housewife, Rep

1946: Index to Register of Voters, Los Angeles Precinct No. 1528, Los Angeles Co., California:
Donahoe, Harry E, 406 S Citrus av, Rep
Donahoe, Mrs. Mary Irene, 406 S Citrus av, Reb

1948: Index to Register of Voters, Los Angeles Precinct No. 1528, Los Angeles Co., California:
Donahoe, Harry E, 406 S Citrus av, Rep
Donahoe, Mrs. Mary Irene, 406 S Citrus av, Rep

Mar 16, 1948: Death of William Christian Schaller (age 82), father of Mary Irene (Schaller) Chamberlin Donahoe, in Los Angeles, Co., California. William is buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, Los Angeles Co., California.

Oct 9, 1949: Death of Harry Emmet Donahoe (age 65) of a heart attack in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California. Harry is the 2nd husband of Mary Irene (Schaller) Chamberlin Donahoe.

Oct 9, 1949: California Death Index:
Name: Harry Emmett Donahoe
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 24 Feb 1884
Birth Place: South Dakota
Death Date: 9 Oct 1949
Death Place: Los Angeles
Mother’s Maiden Name: Williams
Father’s Surname: Donahoe

Oct 10, 1949: Argus-Leader, Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls Co., South Dakota (pg 8):

10 Oct 1949: Los Angeles Evening Citizen News, Hollywood, Los Angeles Co., California (pg 16):

Oct 11, 1949: Burial of Harry Emmett Donahoe in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, Los Angeles Co., California.

1950: Index to Register of Voters, Los Angeles Precinct No. 1528, Los Angeles Co., California:
Donahoe, Mrs. Mary Irene, 406 S Citrus av, Rep

May 1950: Katherine Schaller and her daughter Mary Irene (Schaller) Chamberlin Donahoe. The photo says on the back: “Grammy Schaller and Mother, taken at our house on 423 S. Citrus Ave. before mother, Grammy, M.J., (Maura Jeanne Donahoe) and I (Esther Katherine Donahoe) moved to Santa Barbara, May 1950.” 

Mar 27, 1962: Death of Catherine “Katie” (Muench) Schaller (age 89), mother of Mary Irene (Schaller) Donahoe, in Butte Co., California.

“I want to be buried under a tree,” Katherine Donahoe told her daughter Irene, who granted her mother’s wish. Catherine is buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, Los Angeles Co., California alongside her husband, William Christian Schaller.

Dec 6, 1966: 25th Wedding Anniversary of Harold Valentine Chamberlin & Dorothy Virginia “Dot” (Babbitt) Chamberlin:

circa 1969: Mary “Irene” (Schaller) Chamberlin Donohue:

On the back it reads: “Picture of Mother in Paradise before she got sick, probably 1969. She was playing in an orchestra and this was at the lodge or inn in Paradise.”
Note: Irene worked for an auto agency during the day and played the piano professionally at night. She also was the accompanist for the local ballet and the organist at her church.

Nov 17, 1970: Death of Mary Irene (Schaller) Chamberlin Donahoe (age 77), in Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Co., California; of colon and bone cancer. Irene is buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, Los Angeles Co., California, along with her parents William and Catherine Schaller, and her 2nd husband, Harry Emmett Donahoe.

Nov 17, 1970: California Death Index:
Name: Mary I Donahoe
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 7 Apr 1893
Birth Place: South Dakota
Death Date: 17 Nov 1970
Death Place: Santa Barbara

Jul 11, 1971: Death of Harold Valentine Chamberlin (age 53), the only child of Roy Valentine Chamberlin & Mary “Irene” Schaller Donahoe, in Maywood, Los Angeles Co., California; of a melanoma metastasized throughout his body and lung cancer. Harold is buried at All Soul’s Cemetery in Long Beach, Los Angeles Co., California.

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

2020. Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau and Gordon Clemens.

WCGS (World Chamberlain Genealogical Society)