I believe the "M.A." who exchanges letters with Grace, is Martha Angel of Detroit. I have some postcards that Martha sent to Grace so I have some proof that they did write each other.
Martha is about the same age as Grace. I am not sure how they met. When I read in Grace's diary of something "confidential" relating to Martha, I immediately checked census records to see if Martha suddenly had a baby "sister". But she didn't. So I don't have a clue as to why Grace and Walter Hatch would have been talking about Martha. It doesn't seem to have been anything too scandalous, because later when Grace marries Earl Derham on 9 August 1910, Martha Angel has traveled to Corunna from Detroit and acts as Grace's witness. Two months later, Martha marries August Ostrowski in Detroit on 18 October 1910. Her witness is a girl from Detroit - not Grace.
The Stoddards
Grace mentions the Stoddards several times. They come to visit her family, and she often visits them as well, sometimes spending the night.
There is more than one Stoddard residence in the area, but one Stoddard family that she definitely spends time with is Chester Harlow Stoddard and his wife and Ella E. Stoddard (nee Alger), who live in Corunna Ward 2 in 1910. In 1908, Chester is 39 years old and Ella is 30. The 1910 census shows they have a son Harlow, who would have been 6 years old in 1908. In 1910, Ella reports that she had 2 other children who have died. One of those is her daughter Helen Stoddard, who was age 1 in 1900. Helen was Ella's first child, so another child was born and passed away between 1900 and 1910.
Chester died in 1937. Ella is still living in Corunna at the time the 1940 census was taken.
There is more than one Stoddard residence in the area, but one Stoddard family that she definitely spends time with is Chester Harlow Stoddard and his wife and Ella E. Stoddard (nee Alger), who live in Corunna Ward 2 in 1910. In 1908, Chester is 39 years old and Ella is 30. The 1910 census shows they have a son Harlow, who would have been 6 years old in 1908. In 1910, Ella reports that she had 2 other children who have died. One of those is her daughter Helen Stoddard, who was age 1 in 1900. Helen was Ella's first child, so another child was born and passed away between 1900 and 1910.
Chester died in 1937. Ella is still living in Corunna at the time the 1940 census was taken.
Crane family
The Crane family lives nearby in Caledonia, in between the Lantz and Dudeck families, and 2 doors down from the Buckle family.
John Crane is the head of the household, with his wife Katherine Crane. Leah Crane is the eldest daughter, followed by Bessie Crane, born 3 May 1888. Grace spends a lot of time with Bessie and at the Crane household. Bessie's younger brother is Harold Crane, also mentioned in Grace's diary.
Bessie is listed in the 1910 census as "Lizzie", which could be a transcriber error. Her given name is reported to the State of Michigan as "Bessie" in their birth records, viewable at Family History Library. In the 1940 census, Bessie is still unmarried and is living in Ann Arbor.
John Crane is the head of the household, with his wife Katherine Crane. Leah Crane is the eldest daughter, followed by Bessie Crane, born 3 May 1888. Grace spends a lot of time with Bessie and at the Crane household. Bessie's younger brother is Harold Crane, also mentioned in Grace's diary.
Bessie is listed in the 1910 census as "Lizzie", which could be a transcriber error. Her given name is reported to the State of Michigan as "Bessie" in their birth records, viewable at Family History Library. In the 1940 census, Bessie is still unmarried and is living in Ann Arbor.
Thompson family, including "Chilt" and "Mrs Gilbert"
The Thompsons were major landowners in the area at this time. The map below is from 1875, so it's several years before Grace's 1908 diary, but you can see many of the residents she speaks of. Notice how much land is owned by the Thompsons. Look in the lower right corner of the map.
There is a large square (an acre?) assigned to J.B. Thompson, and just north of the Thompson property is a (half acre?) assigned to E. Rose.
In 1908, Chilt is mentioned 40 times in Grace's diary, so it was obvious to me that he lived close by. Born in April 1848 (according to the 1900 census), he is the 2nd youngest of 9 children. In the 1880 census he's age 31, living with his parents in Caledonia, Shiawassee, Michigan, and listed as married. But where is his wife? She isn't named or listed in the same household. By the time we get to the 1900 census, Chilt is listed as Divorced. Unusual for the time, but the cause of the divorce must not have been scandalous to Chilt's name, because Grace and the Rose family seem completely comfortable with him. It doesn't appear that Chilt ever remarries. He also seems to escape the census taker again until 1930.
Dennison "Den" Thompson is Chilt's older brother, older by 12 years. His wife appears to have been Medora Latilda Benham.
"Mrs Ed Thompson" is likely to be Marion/Mary Thompson as shown in census records. Edward A Thompson is also an older brother of Chilt's.
"Mrs Gilbert" is Chilt's older sister, Melissa. She is widowed and lives with Chilt.
There is a large square (an acre?) assigned to J.B. Thompson, and just north of the Thompson property is a (half acre?) assigned to E. Rose.
In 1908, Chilt is mentioned 40 times in Grace's diary, so it was obvious to me that he lived close by. Born in April 1848 (according to the 1900 census), he is the 2nd youngest of 9 children. In the 1880 census he's age 31, living with his parents in Caledonia, Shiawassee, Michigan, and listed as married. But where is his wife? She isn't named or listed in the same household. By the time we get to the 1900 census, Chilt is listed as Divorced. Unusual for the time, but the cause of the divorce must not have been scandalous to Chilt's name, because Grace and the Rose family seem completely comfortable with him. It doesn't appear that Chilt ever remarries. He also seems to escape the census taker again until 1930.
Dennison "Den" Thompson is Chilt's older brother, older by 12 years. His wife appears to have been Medora Latilda Benham.
"Mrs Ed Thompson" is likely to be Marion/Mary Thompson as shown in census records. Edward A Thompson is also an older brother of Chilt's.
"Mrs Gilbert" is Chilt's older sister, Melissa. She is widowed and lives with Chilt.
Corunna Ward 3 residents in 1910
In Corunna Ward 3:
Leah Eveleth, age 35, wife of W.S. Eveleth. She and W.S. have been married for 15 years. She reports having 13 children, 10 of whom are still living as of 1910.
Judson Peacock, age 66, and wife. Presumably the "Jud Peacock folks" who join Grace's family on a picnic on July 12.
Corunna Ward 2 residents in 1910
In Corunna Ward 2:
Arthur J Peacock, age 35, with wife and 9yo daughter
Next door to the Peacocks live the Inglehart family. Could Mrs Gertrude Inglehart, age 26, be the "Mrs Englehart" that Grace visits on July 6?
Mable (spelled Mabel) E Wallace, age 24, living with her parents and siblings
Living next door to the Wallaces are the Jackson family, with daughter Grace E Jackson, age 25. Could she be one of our Grace's friends?
John H and Eva D Dudeck, ages 24 and 22. They have been married for 3 years.
Etta Burger, age 33, single, living with her parents.
Seal Morse
Seal Morse is a bit of a mystery.
He is likely to be Royal Seal Garfield Morse, 1883-1945, who worked for Buick. This person ended up using the name R. Seal Morse or sometimes Royal Morse, and lived in Flint, Michigan while working for Buick.
In the 1910 Owosso city directory, there is a Seal Morse listed. At that time he is working as a clerk at Old Corunna State Bank, and resides at 214 S Shiawassee Ave. In 1914 he is still living in Owosso, but at 107 S Shiawassee Ave. No wife is listed either time. I am unable to find this gentleman in the 1910 Federal census.
I am not sure if these gentlemen are the same person, but either are likely candidates to be Grace's Seal Morse.
He is likely to be Royal Seal Garfield Morse, 1883-1945, who worked for Buick. This person ended up using the name R. Seal Morse or sometimes Royal Morse, and lived in Flint, Michigan while working for Buick.
In the 1910 Owosso city directory, there is a Seal Morse listed. At that time he is working as a clerk at Old Corunna State Bank, and resides at 214 S Shiawassee Ave. In 1914 he is still living in Owosso, but at 107 S Shiawassee Ave. No wife is listed either time. I am unable to find this gentleman in the 1910 Federal census.
I am not sure if these gentlemen are the same person, but either are likely candidates to be Grace's Seal Morse.
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