FAMILY LINE AND HISTORY
Donald Edward “Don” Whitaker (born Donald Lincoln Whitaker)
4th of 7 children of Edward Lawrence Whitaker & Ada Agnes Chamberlin
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: Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery in Santa Paula, Ventura Co., California
Military Service: WWII: US Navy, PHM1, European theater
Occupation: Shoe salesman, shoe store owner
Married: Sep 15, 1944, Mary Jane (Conger) Bement, Naples, Italy, during WWII
Two children: Donna Marie Whitaker, Thomas Edward “Tom” Whitaker
Mary Jane Conger
Daughter of Nelson Maine Conger & Inez Mary Reiszner
Born: Dec 6, 1915, Miles City, Custer Co., Montana
Died: Nov 16, 2002 (age 86), Santa Paula, Ventura Co., California; after a lengthy illness
Buried: Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery in Santa Paula, Ventura Co., California
Military: WWII, WAC in US Army, Staff Sgt., European theater
Occupation: Nurse, teacher, US WAC secretary, Santa Maria Railroad, bookkeeper
Married (1): Jun 1, 1937, Robert Joseph Bement, Forsyth, Rosebud Co., Montana
Divorced: prior to the 1940 census, Robert Joseph Bement
No children
Married (2): Sep 5, 1944, Donald Edward “Don” Whitaker, Naples, Italy, during WWII
Two children: Donna Marie Whitaker, Thomas Edward “Tom” Whitaker
**********
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 “Don” Whitaker
1909 – 1995
5. Melvin Lawrence Whitaker
1911 – 1943
6. Thelma Marie Whitaker
1912 – 1996
7. Edward Joseph Whitaker
1914 – 1978
Two known children of Nelson Maine Conger & Inez Mary Reiszner:
1. Herbert William Conger
1911 – 1995
2. Mary Jane Conger
1916 – 2002
3. unkn
4. unkn
**********
Feb 2, 1909: Birth of Donald Edward “Don” Whitaker, 4th of 7 children of Edward Lawrence Whitaker & Ada Agnes Chamberlin in Baker (Paddy Creek), Baker Co., Oregon
note: He was originally named Donald Lincoln Whitaker as he was born on Lincoln’s birthday; Ada then changed his name to Donald Edward Whitaker
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: Goodby 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 their mother’s sister, Mamie, in Baker, Oregon
May 26, 1915: Death of Edward Lawrence “Ed” Whitaker (age 41), the father of Donald Edward 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 Lawrence Whitaker in Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker, Baker Co., Oregon
Dec 6, 1915: Birth of Mary Jane Conger, daughter of Nelson Maine Conger & Inez Mary Reiszner, in Miles City, Custer Co., Montana
Name: Mary Jane Canger (Conger)
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birth Date: 6 Dec 1915
Birth Place: Miles City, Custer, Montana, USA
Father: Nelson N. Canger (Conger)
Mother: Iney Canger (Inez Conger)
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
Circa 1924: Whitaker brothers Melvin, Edward, and Donald:
Apr 2, 1930: Federal Census for Miles City, Custer Co., Montana:
Name: Mary Jane Bugby (note: Mary Jane Conger is raised in the Bugby household and going by that name)
Birth Year: abt 1916
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age in 1930: 14
Birthplace: Montana
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Ward
Home in 1930: Miles, Custer, Montana, USA
Map of Home: Miles, Custer, Montana
Street Address: Palmer St.
Attended School: Yes
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father’s Birthplace: Wisconsin
Mother’s Birthplace: Iowa
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members: Age Relationship
Maud Bugby: age 49 Head
Helen Bugby: age 25, Niece
Mary Jane Bugby: age 14, Ward (note: Mary Jane Conger is raised in the Bugby household and going by that name)
Annette Chellis: age 23, Roomer
Apr 4, 1930: Federal Census for Baker City, Baker Co., Oregon:
Wright, Harold: head, rents, $25, age 30, married at age 24, born Oregon, father born United States, mother born Minnesota, clerk in paper office
Vera: wife, age 26, married at age 19, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Jacqueline: daughter, age 5, born Oregon, father born Oregon, mother born Oregon (Mary)
Neva: daughter, 2 yr, 3 mo, born Oregon, father born Oregon, mother born Oregon
Harold: son, age 5 mo, born Oregon, father born Oregon, mother born Oregon (Thomas/Tom)
Whitaker, Donald: brother-in-law, age 21, single, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Note: Vera is now married and her brother Donald is living with her and family
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; head, age 52, widow, born Texas, Ada’s father born in New York, mother born in Pennsylvania; children’s father born in Kansas
Jun 1, 1937: Marriage of Mary Jane Conger & Robert Joseph Bement (her 1st marriage):
Name: Mary Jane Conger
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age: 21
Birth Date: abt 1916
Birth Place: Miles City, Custer, Montana
Marriage Date: 1 Jun 1937
Marriage Place: Forsyth, Rosebud, Montana, USA
Father: Nelson Mayne Cooper
Mother: Inez Cooper
Spouse: Robert J. Bement
Certificate Number: 1977
Apr 17, 1940: Federal Census for Santa Maria, Santa Barbara Co., California:
Name: Don Whitaker
Respondent: Yes
Age: 30
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1910
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Oregon
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Lodger
Home in 1940: Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, California
Street: W Orange
House Number: 404
Inferred Residence in 1935: Moscow, Latah, Idaho
Residence in 1935: Moscow, Latah, Idaho
Occupation: Clerk in shoe store
Highest Grade Completed: High School, 4th year
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 57
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work
Weeks Worked in 1939: 30
Income: 750
Income Other Sources: No
Household Members: Age, Relationship:
Loulou More: age 59, Head
Don Whitaker: age 30, Lodger
Apr 19, 1940: Federal Census for Miles City, Custer Co., Montana:
Name: Mary Jane Bement
Age: 24
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1916
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: Montana
Marital Status: Divorced
Relation to Head of House: Lodger
Home in 1940: Miles City, Custer, Montana
Street: Garland
House Number: 1117
Inferred Residence in 1935: Miles City, Custer, Montana
Residence in 1935: Miles City
Occupation: Secretarial Work
Highest Grade Completed: College, 2nd year
Duration of Unemployment: 38
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in Government work
Weeks Worked in 1939: 26
Income: 836
Income Other Sources: No
Household Members: Age, Relationship:
Daniel Carlstrom: age 80, Head
Marguerete Carlstrom: age 69, Wife
Mary Jane Bement: age 24, Lodger
Oct 16, 1940: U.S. WWII Draft Card:
Name: Robert Joseph Bement
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 24
Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
Birth Date: 12 Aug 1916
Birth Place: Butte, Montana, USA
Residence Place: Miles City, Custer, Montana, USA
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: Montana, USA
Employer: Holly Sugar Corporation
Weight: 158
Complexion: Light Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Brown
Height: 5 7
Next of Kin: Mazie Bement
Household Members: Name Relationship
Robert Joseph Bement: Self (Head)
Mazie Bement: Mother
Oct 16, 1940: U.S. WWII Draft Card:
Name: Donald Edward Whitaker
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 31
Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
Birth Date: 12 Feb 1909
Birth Place: Baker, Oregon, USA
Residence Place: Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, California, USA
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, California, USA
Employer: Inez Hopper
Weight: 135
Complexion: Light Brown
Eye Color: Gray
Hair Color: Brown
Height: 5 4
Next of Kin: Ada Whitaker
Household Members: Name Relationship
Donald Edward Whitaker Self (Head)
Ada Whitaker Mother
Sep 15, 1944: Marriage of Donald Edward “Don” Whitaker & Mary Jane (Conger) Bement by a Navy Chaplain in the Holy Redeemer Church in Naples, Italy, during WWII
Sep 15, 1944: Marriage certificate for Donald Edward Whitaker & Mary Jane (Conger) Bement:
Dec 3, 1945: U.S. Army Military Discharge for Robert Joseph Bement:
1947: City Directory for Santa Maria, California (pg 136):
Name: Donald Whitaker
Gender: Male
Residence Year: 1947
Street Address: 405b E Cook
Residence Place: Santa Maria, California, USA
Spouse: Mary Jane Whitaker
Publication Title: Santa Maria, California, City Directory, 1947
Jul 15, 1960: Death of Ada Agnes (Chamberlin) Whitaker (age 82), mother of Donald Edward Whitaker, 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
Aug 2, 1960: Death of Robert Joseph Bement (age 43), the son of Robert Dewitt Bement and Mazie C. Carlstrom and the 1st husband of Mary Jane (Conger) Whitaker, in Miles City, Custer Co., Montana. Robert is buried in the Custer County Cemetery, Miles City, Custer Co., Montana.
May 1, 1995: Death of Donald Edward “Don” Whitaker (age 86), 4th of 7 children of Edward Lawrence Whitaker & Ada Agnes Chamberlin in Baker Santa Paula, Ventura Co., California; of emphysema and lung cancer
May 1, 1995: California Death Index:
Name: Donald Edward Whitaker
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 12 Feb 1909
Birth Place: Oregon
Death Date: 1 May 1995
Death Place: Ventura
Mother’s Maiden Name: Chamberlin
May 1995: Burial of Donald Edward Whitaker in Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery, Santa Paula, Ventura Co., California
Note: PHM1, acronym for PHARMACIST’S MATE 1ST CLASS
Nov 16, 2002: Death of Mary Jane (Conger) Whitaker (age 86), the daughter of Nelson Maine Conger & Inez Mary Reiszner and wife of Donald Edward “Don” Whitaker
Nov 16, 2002: Social Security Applications Claims Index:
Name: Mary Jane Bugby (note: in the 1930 census Mary Jane Conger is living as a ward in the Bugby residence and using that name)
[Mary Jane Bement]
[Mary Whitaker]
[Mary Jane Conger]
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birth Date: 6 Dec 1915
Birth Place: Miles City, Montana
[Miles City, Custer Co., Montana]
Death Date: 16 Nov 2002
Father: Nelson M Conger
Mother: Inez M Reiszner
Signature on SSN Card: Mary Jane Bugby
Relationship of Signature: Signature name differs from NH’s name.
Notes:
Jan 1937: Name listed as MARY JANE BUGBY; (note: in the 1930 census Mary Jane is living as a ward in the Bugby residence)
Dec 1942: Name listed as MARY JANE BEMENT;
Nov 1945: Name listed as MARY JANE WHITAKER;
26 Nov 2002: Name listed as MARY J WHITAKER
Nov 2002: Burial of Mary Jane (Conger) Whitaker in Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery, Santa Paula, Ventura Co., California
U.S. Veterans’ Gravesites:
Name: Mary Jane Whitaker
Death Age: 86
Birth Date: 6 Dec 1915
Death Date: 16 Nov 2002
Internment Place: California, USA
Cemetery Address: 380 Cemetery Road Santa Paula, CA 93060
Cemetery: Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery
Notes: S Sgt Us Army World War II
Note: The cemetery and headstone pictures are from Find A Grave and are the property of those who photographed them.
2021. Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau.