FAMILY LINE AND HISTORY
Zelda Beatrice Whitaker
3rd of 7 children of Edward Lawrence Whitaker & Ada Agnes Chamberlin
Born: Apr 19, 1907, Baker City, 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: Bookkeeper for Baker Democrat-Herald, clerk at City of Portland Water Department
Married: May 16, 1931, Robert Tran “Tran” Alfrey, Klamath Falls, Klamath Co., Oregon
Three children: Ardis Marie Alfrey, Barbara Ann “Bobbie” Alfrey, Mary Ellen Alfrey
Robert Tran “Tran” Alfrey
1st of 4 children of Hugh Alfrey & Florence Virginia “Flora” Pegues
Born: Jun 27, 1899, Siloam Springs, Benton Co., Arkansas
Died: Oct 30, 1967 (age 68), Portland, Multnomah Co. Oregon; heart problems
Buried: Mount Calvary Cemetery in Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon
Occupation: Light company meter reader, electrical contractor
Married: May 16, 1931, Zelda Beatrice Whitaker, Klamath Falls, Klamath Co., Oregon
Three children: Ardis Marie Alfrey, Barbara “Bobbie” Ann Alfrey, Mary Ellen Alfrey
**********
Timeline and Records
Seven children of Ada Agnes Chamberlin & Edward Lawrence “Ed” Whitaker:
1. Vera Stanislaus Whitaker
1903 – 1983
2. Leonard Fenley “Len” Whitaker
1905 – 1965
3. Zelda Beatrice Whitaker
1907 – 1989
4. Donald Edward Whitaker
1909 – 1995
5. Melvin Lawrence Whitaker
1911 – 1943
6. Thelma Marie Whitaker
1912 – 1996
7. Edward Joseph Whitaker
1914 – 1978
Four children of Hugh Alfrey & Florence Virginia “Flora” Pegues:
1. Robert Tran “Tran” Alfrey
1899 – 1967
2. Willis Hugh Alfrey
1903 – 1949
3. Emily Virginia Alfrey
1905 – 1996
4. John Alfrey
1912 – 2003
**********
Jun 27, 1899: Birth of Robert Tran “Tran” Alfrey, 1st of 4 children of Hugh Alfrey & Florence Virginia “Flora” Pegues, in Siloam Springs, Benton Co., Arkansas
Hugh Alfrey w/sons Robert Tran & Willis Hugh
Jun 27, 1899: Arkansas Birth Certificate for Robert Tran Alfrey
Name: Robert Tran Alfrey
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 27 Jun 1899
Birth Place: Siloam Springs, Benton, Arkansas, USA
Father: Hugh Alfrey
Mother: Florence Virginia Alfrey
Certificate Number: 506
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:
Chamberlin sisters: Ada, Nellie & Mamie, w. 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.
Apr 1908: Zelda Whitaker at age one:
Apr 25, 1910: Federal Census for Benton, Hico Co., Arkansas:
Name: Robert T Alfrey
Age in 1910: 10
Birth Year: abt 1900
Birthplace: Arkansas
Home in 1910: Hico, Benton, Arkansas
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Son
Marital Status: Single
Father’s Name: Hugh Alfrey
Father’s Birthplace: Arkansas
Mother’s Name: Flora Alfrey
Mother’s Birthplace: Texas
Native Tongue: English
Attended School: Yes
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members: Age Relationship
Hugh Alfrey: age 37, Head
Flora Alfrey: age 32, Wife
Robert T Alfrey, age 10, Son
Willis H Alfrey: age 6, Son
Virginia Alfrey: age 4, Daughter
May 2, 1910: Federal Census for 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.: son, 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 yr 2 mo, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
1910 at the mine: Zelda (age 3), Len (age 5yr, 6mo), Donald (age 1yr, 6mo) Whitaker, and half-brother Howard Chambers (age11):
1910 at the mine: top to bottom: Howard Chambers (age 11), Len (age 5yr, 6mo), Zelda (age 3), Donald (age 1yr, 6mo)
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 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 (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 Chamberlain
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)
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 were staying with Ada’s sister, Mamie, in Baker, Oregon
May 26, 1915: Death of Edward Lawrence “Ed” Whitaker (age 41), the father of Zelda Beatrice Whitaker, in Spokane, Spokane Co., Washington; of a cancerous mouth tumor. Ed is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker, Baker Co., Oregon.
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 28, 1915: Burial of Edward L. Whitaker in Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker, Baker Co., Oregon
1916: Tran Alfrey, Baker High School Year Book, Baker City, Baker Co., Oregon:
His yearbook quote: “Push on—keep moving”
Sep 12, 1918: WWI Draft Registration:
Name: Tran Alfrey
Race: White
Birth Date: 27 Jun 1899
Residence Date: 1917-1918
Street Address: 2968 Campbell
Residence Place: Baker County, Oregon, USA
Physical Build: Medium
Height: Medium
Hair Color: Dark
Eye Color: Gray
Relative: Hugh Alfrey
Jan 9, 1920: Federal Census for Baker Precinct, Baker Co., Oregon:
Whitaker, Ada A: head, rents, widow, age 42, born Texas, father born New York, mother born Pennsylvania, clerk in paper office
Vera: daughter, age 16, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Leonard: son, age 14, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Zelda: daughter age 12, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Donald: son, age 10, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Melvin: son, age 8, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Thelma: daughter, age 7, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Edward: son, age 5, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Jan 9, 1920: Federal Census for Depot Precinct, Baker Co., Oregon:
Name: Robert T Alfrey
Age: 20
Birth Year: abt 1900
Birthplace: Arkansas
Home in 1920: Baker, Baker, Oregon
Street: Campbell Street
Residence Date: 1920
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Son
Marital Status: Single
Father’s Name: Hugh Alfrey
Father’s Birthplace: Arkansas
Mother’s Name: Florence Alfrey
Mother’s Birthplace: Texas
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Meter Reader
Industry: Light Co
Employment Field: Wage or Salary
Attended School: No
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members: Age, Relationship
Hugh Alfrey: age 45, Head
Florence Alfrey: age 42, Wife
Robert T Alfrey: age 20, Son
Willis H Alfrey, age 16, Son
Virginia Alfrey: age 14, Daughter
John Alfrey: age 7, Son
1925: Zelda Whitaker in Baker, Oregon:
Apr 9, 1930: Federal Census for Baker City, Baker Co., Oregon:
Whittaker, A: head, age 52, widow, born Texas, father born United States, mother born England, circulation manager for newspaper
Zelda: daughter, age 22, single, born Oregon, father born Nevada, mother born Texas, bookkeeper for newspaper
Thelma: daughter, age 16, single, born Oregon, father born Nevada, mother born Texas, salesgirl in variety store
Edward: son, age 15, single, born Oregon, father born Nevada, mother born Texas, messenger boy for telegraph
Melvin: son, age 18, single, born Oregon, father born Nevada, mother born Texas, commercial salesman in hosery
Note: (Ada Agnes Whitaker, Vera’s mother) Ada’s father born in New York, mother born in Pennsylvania; children’s father born in Kansas
May 16, 1931: Marriage of Zelda Beatrice Whitaker & Robert Tran “Tran” Alfrey, in Klamath Falls, Klamath Co., Oregon
May 16, 1931: Oregon Marriage Index:
Name: Tran Alfrey
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 16 May 1931
Marriage Place: Klamath, Oregon, USA
Spouse: Zelda Whitaker
May 19, 1931: The Klamath News, Klamath Falls, Klamath Co. Oregon (pg 1):
Couples getting [Marriage] licenses here are:
Feb 16, 1933: The Klamath News, Klamath Falls, Klamath Co. Oregon (pg 5):
Apr 10, 1935: The Klamath News, Klamath Falls, Klamath Co. Oregon (pg 6):
1937: City Directory for Pendelton, Umatilla Co., Oregon (pg 22):
Name: Robert T Alfrey
Gender: Male
Residence Year: 1937
Street Address: 112 S Arc
Residence Place: Pendleton, Oregon, USA
Occupation: Electrician, Vaughan’s Electric
Spouse: Zelda Alfrey
Publication Title: Pendleton, Oregon, City Directory, 1937
Apr 3, 1940: Federal Census for Pendleton, Umatilla Co., Oregon:
Name: Robert T Alfrey
Age: 41
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1899
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Arkansas
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1940: Pendleton, Umatilla, Oregon
Map of Home in 1940: Pendleton, Umatilla, Oregon
Street: (Carden) Raley
House Number: 1106 (1210)
Inferred Residence in 1935: Klamath Falls, Klamath, Oregon
Residence in 1935: Klamath Falls, Klamath, Oregon
Resident on farm in 1935: No
Occupation: Electrician
House Owned or Rented: Rented
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 28
Highest Grade Completed: College, 1st year
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 40
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work
Weeks Worked in 1939: 44
Income: 2300
Income Other Sources: No
Household Members: Age, Relationship:
Robert T Alfrey: Age 41, Head
Zelda C Alfrey: Age 32, Wife
Ardis M Alfrey: Age, 7, Daughter
Barbara A Alfrey: Age 4, Daughter
Mary E Alfrey: Age 3, Daughter
1941: photo taken at Leonard & Margie Whitaker’s home in Corbett, Oregon:
Neva Wright, friend, Margie Whitaker, Russ & Vera Cahill, Jackie Wright, Zelda & Tran Alfrey
Children: Barbara Alfrey, Ardis Alfrey, Mary Alfrey, Claudette Wright
1940s photo of Zelda (Whitaker) Alfrey:
Feb 14, 1942: WWII Draft Card:
Name: Robert Tran Alfrey
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 42
Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
Birth Date: 27 Jun 1899
Birth Place: Springs, Arkansas, USA
Residence Place: Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, USA
Registration Date: 14 Feb 1942
Registration Place: Oregon, USA
Employer: W R Grasle Co
Weight: 155
Complexion: Ruddy
Eye Color: Gray
Hair Color: Black
Height: 5 9
Next of Kin: Zelda Alfrey
May 31, 1944: Death of Hugh Alfrey (age 71), father of Tran Alfrey, in Baker Cty, Baker Co., California
Jun 2, 1944: Burial of Hugh Alfrey, father of Tran Alfrey, in Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City, Baker Co., Oregon
Sep 4, 1950: Zelda Beatrice (Whitaker) Alfrey (age 43):
Circa 1950: Ada Whitaker in middle, with grandaughters, Ardis and Barbara “Bobbie” Alfrey:
Jun 22, 1958: Death of Florence Virginia “Flora” (Pegues) Alfrey (age 80), the mother of Tran Alfrey, in Baker City, Baker Co., Oregon
Jun 1958: Baker County, Oregon Obituaries:
Mrs. Florence Virginia Alfrey, 80, 1969 Campbell Street died Sunday in St. Elizabeth hospital following a brief illness. Mrs. Alfrey, a housewife, had lived in Baker for 48 years. She was married to Hugh Alfrey in 1898 in Siloam Springs, Ark. They came to Baker in 1910. Mr. Alfrey was justice of the peace in Baker for many years prior to his death in 1944. Mrs. Alfrey was a member of the Baker Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include two sons. Tran Alfrey, Portland, and Col. John Alfrey, El Paso, Texas; a daughter Mrs. Virginia Prescott, Antioch, Calif.; two sisters, Mrs. Martha Wright, Tulsa, Okla., and Mrs. Lulu Spencer, Boerne, Texas; a brother, Marvin Pegues, Tulsa, Okla., seven grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mrs. Alfrey will be held at the Presbyterian church, Fourth and Washington sts., on Wednesday, June 25 at 2 p.m. Interment will be in Mt. Hope cemetery under the direction of the Beatty Chapel.
Jun 25, 1958: Burial of Flora Alfrey, mother of Tan Alfrey, in Mount Hope Cemetery, Baker City, Baker Co., Oregon
As I Was Told:
“Her son Willis was the one who called her Flora. The rest of us called her Nanny. To people outside the family, she was Mrs. Alfrey.” ~ Granddaughter, Barbara Alfrey
Jul 15, 1960: Death of Ada Agnes (Chamberlin) Whitaker (age 82), mother of Zelda Beatrice (Whitaker) Alfrey, in Baker, Baker Co., Oregon; of pneumonia.
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.
Burial of Ada Agnes (Chamberlin) Whitaker in Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker, Baker Co., Oregon:
Jul 1960: Ada Agnes (Chamberlin) Whitaker’s children at her funeral: Vera, Edward, Donald, Len, Thelma, Zelda:
Note: Two of Ada’s sons, Howard Chambers and Melvin Whitaker are deceased
Oct 30, 1967: Death of Robert Tran “Tran” Alfrey (age 68), husband of Zelda (Whitaker) Alfrey, in Portland, Multnomah Co. Oregon; heart problems
Oct 30, 1967: Social Security Death Index:
Name: Robert Alfrey
Birth Date: 27 Jun 1899
Issue Year: Before 1951
Issue State: Oregon
Last Residence: 97221, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon
Death Date: Oct 1967
Buried: Tran is buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon with his parents, Hugh & Flora Alfrey
Note: his headstone is carved in error, he was born in 1899
Sep 2, 1989: Death of Zelda Beatrice (Whitaker) Alfrey (age 82), in Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon; in St. Joseph’s Nursing Home of heart failure
Sep 2, 1989: Oregon Death Index:
Name: Zelda Beatrice Alfrey
Age: 82
Birth Date: 19 Apr 1907
Death Date: 2 Sep 1989
Death Place: Multnomah
Spouse: Robert
Buried: Zelda is buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon with her parents Ada & Ed Whitaker and alongside her husband Tran Alfrey.
Note: The cemetery and headstone pictures are from Find A Grave and are the property of those who photographed them.
2021. Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau.