This week I am writing about my husband’s paternal great grandfather. To enlarge any image just click on the image.

George Washington Case was born 21 October 1872 in Nebraska to Nehemial Thomas and Levina J. Case. In the 1870 US Census Thomas and Lavina were living in Pawnee county Nebraska.  By the 1880 US Census the family has moved to Elk Creek township in Republic County, Kansas where George is one of 7 children. In the 1885 Kansas state Census George (12 years old) is in Highland, Washington county, Kansas. When this photo was taken the last of 11 children had been born.

The extent of George’s education according to the 1940 US Census was through the 7th grade. That was probably about 13 years of age. With all those brothers and sisters he was probably expected to work either on his fathers ranch or at a neighbors farm where he could contribute to the family income.

On 19 March 1895 George Case marries Myrtus Mable Rudy the daughter of Samuel and Anna (Clutter) Rudy. They had eleven children. Matilda Velma was born in 1896, Valeria Maude born 1897, Georgian Violet born 1899, Ina May born 1900, Fannie Elizabeth born 1901, Vesta Arvilla born 1903, Elmer Ellsworth born 1906, Horace Gilbert born 1908, Ralph George born 1911. Samuel Paul born 1913, Anna Esther born 1914.

From the 1900  through the 1910 US Census we find George and Family living in Osborne county Kansas. Where he is farming his own place.

According to the 1910 census Mrytus at that time  had given birth to 9 children 8 of which were still living. Looking at the birth years she had a child every year except between Vesta and Horace. There we see a gap between Vesta and Elmer and again between Elmer and Horace. In one of those gaps is where she more then likely lost a child.

Mrytus died 19 September 1916 and was buried in Waldo Kansas. Their youngest, Anna, was only 2 years old.  Did Mrytus die in childbirth or just too worn out from all those births? Anna the last child was raised mostly by her older sisters. Along with their own children. She was not much older then some of her nieces and nephews.

From 1916 and through the 1925 Kansas State Census we have George living in Waldo, Russell county Kansas. In the 1920 census he is working as an Electrician for a Light Company. In the 1925 Kansas census he does not have an occupation nor is he looking for work.

In the 1930 US Census we find him in Sublette Haskell County Kansas. Here we find George working for an Oil Company.

In the 1940 US Census George is still living in Sublette.

When George dies 09 October 1954 he is in Clay Center Kansas. He also is buried in Waldo, (now shown as Osborne County) Kansas.

George Case’s grandson wrote the following when I asked him about his grandfather Case.

He liked to own land and used to tell me that if I had two nickels to rub together, to buy land with one of them. He was generous to a fault when I was around him, and liked to help people out. He came from a fairly large family, and I never knew much about his background.

When Granddad died, he left all his money to the girls and all his land to the boys. Mom also inherited the mineral rights to a section of land, down by Walsenburg CO, but I have no idea what ever happened to that.