Howard Wegley

Howard J. Wegley, my great-granduncle, was born on April 26, 1903, in the small town of Kane, Pennsylvania. His life, marked by both personal tribulations and the complexities of an early 20th-century American, came to a premature end at the age of 33.

On January 17, 1937, Howard succumbed to a fatal bout of pneumonia. This information comes from his obituary, published in The Kane Republican on January 18th, which stated he died “yesterday” and his death certificate.

At the time of his passing, Howard resided at 22 Mission East Parkway, Pittsburgh, PA. His health declined rapidly after he first reported symptoms on January 10th, leading to his hospitalization on January 14th at Allegheny General Hospital, where he passed away in the early hours of January 17th.

Howard’s personal life bore its share of complexities. He was married to Olive Rush Hooks, with whom he had a son, Leroy G. Wegley, born on September 16, 1930. However, a contrast emerges in records regarding his marital status at his death. While his obituary mentioned he was survived by his wife, his death certificate indicated he was divorced. Olive later remarried in 1948 to William Macaluso.

A significant chapter in Howard’s life was his sentence on March 11, 1935, to the Allegheny County Workhouse, where he was registered as Prisoner #39227. This facility, situated near Blawnox, Pennsylvania, functioned as both a workhouse and an inebriate asylum, operational from 1869 until its closure in 1971. It primarily housed inmates convicted of minor offenses, who contributed to the maintenance of its extensive farmlands, which spanned roughly 1100 acres and included a variety of crops and farm animals.

Howard’s physical description, as recorded in the prison records, noted him to be 5’7″ tall, weighing 113 pounds upon entry and 122 pounds at release. However, the nature of the crime for which he was convicted remains unclear due to illegible records.

This biography seeks to shed light on the life of Howard J. Wegley, a man whose journey reflects the trials and societal norms of his era. His story is a fragment of the larger tapestry of American history in the early 20th century.

I’m not quite sure what crime he was convicted of. It’s listed (see image below), but I can’t read what the word is.

Maybe you’ll have better luck. I’ve included his crime listed below, next to the others, to give you some sort of context.

 

Orville Jack Wegley

Orville Wegley (went by Jack) was born on October 26, 1920 and he died on July 4, 1995. He was born and died in Williston, North Dakota where he and his family lived all of their lives and his father Joseph Wegley served as the town’s mayor.

He is the youngest child of Joseph Wegley and Tena (Olson) Wegley.

Orville (Jack) Wegley served in the United States Army from June 2, 1939, to April 10, 1944. This means he served during World War II which took place from Sep 1, 1939 – Sep 2, 1945.

On February 10, 1941, he shows to have enlisted in the National Guard in the infantry branch. I’m not sure how that works since at the time he was already in the Army.

As soon as he was discharged from the military he married Nadine Melland on May 29, 1944.

Minnie Marie Hoag

Minnie Marie Hoag was born on January 9, 1925, in Monessen, PA. She died on February 10, 2000, which she was 75 years old.

Her mother is Emma Marie Assel, and her father is Robert Thomas Hoag.

Here we have Minnie in the 1930 US census when she was just about five years old. She is living with her parents, her baby sister Elsie Jane Hoag and someone named James. This is not her youngest brother Robert Thomas Hoag Junior, since he wasn’t born yet.

James is probably her uncle James William Hoag (1894-1940) – brother of Robert Thomas Hoag (Minnie’s father).

Minnie Marie Hoag married Samuel Caruso, and they had at least two children, Samuel Caruso Junior and Paula Marie Caruso.

She died on February 10, 2000, in Bridgeton, New Jersey.

 

Robert Thomas Hoag

Robert Thomas Hoag was born on March 3, 1900, in Fayette City, PA. We can verify this is his date of birth thanks to his World War 1 Draft Registration Card.

Robert Thomas Hoag married Emma Marie Assel on May 20, 1924, in Monessen, PA.

Together they had four children, only three of which who lived, Minni Marie Hoag, Elsie Jane Hoag, and Robert Thomas Hoag Junior.

Here is a death certificate issue for a stillborn child, born on October 23, 1931. This means the child would have been younger than Elsie and older than Robert Thomas.

He died on November 13, 1961. we know this because we have a copy of his death certificate.

This document also confirms for us that his father’s name is Walter Hoag. When Robert Thomas Hoag died he was living at 1614 Maple Avenue, in Monessen, PA. It’s a small 2 bedroom house that is still around to this day. (Directions)

His death certificate also tells us that he died of pancreatic cancer, something of which he was diagnosed with just two months prior to his death.

 

 

Emma Marie Assel

Emma Marie Assel was born on April 18, 1905, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. She died on May 16, 1988, in Bridgeton, New Jersey.

Emma Marie June 1986

Emma Marie Assel is the wife of Robert Thomas Hoag. Together they had four children, only three of which who lived, Minni Marie Hoag, Elsie Jane Hoag, and Robert Thomas Hoag Junior.

Here is a death certificate issue for a stillborn child, born on October 23, 1931. This means the child would have been younger than Elsie and older than Robert Thomas.

The death certificate didn’t list the sex of the child but did bury him (or her) at the Grandview Cemetery in Monessen, PA.

This death certificate is important because it verifies other facts for us such as the fact that Robert Hoag was born in Fayette City, PA and that Emma Assel was born in Pittsburg, PA and they were the parents. It also tells us that on the date of the child’s death they were living at 105 Reed Ave., in Monessen, PA (directions) –  a house that still exists to this day.

It’s a small 2 bedroom house

 

John Wesley Wegley

John Wesley Wegley was born on March 5, 1923, in Charleston, West Virginia. He is the 2nd John Wesley Wegley in my family tree. This particular John Wesley is my great-uncle – the older brother of my grandfather.

His father was Fredrick Wegley and his mother Tillie Blanch Edwards.

Although John Wesley was born in West Virginia, he wasn’t there long. By 1930 we find him with his family already living in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, thanks to the 1930 United States Federal Census.

He was 7 years old at the time and as you might expect, attending school. He, however, wouldn’t graduate from high school. Times were hard in this period in history and he had to quick high school after his 2nd year.

At 17 years old he was working in a glass factory just like his father.  This was a new job for him because we can see in 1939, he had listed 0 hours work and that is usual occupation is “new worker”.

On February 12, 1943, John Wesley Wegley enlisted in the US Army. His enlistment term was for the duration of the War or another emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law.

It is on his draft registration card that we learn he was 5 foot 5 inches tall with light complexion, brown hair, and blue eyes.

He obtained the rank of Staff Sergeant in the United States Army. According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, his official enlistment date is February 20, 1943, and his release date was December 6, 1945.

At the age of 23, John Wesley Wegley married Norman Jean Pocky. She was 21 years of age at the time. Their marriage took place on April 1, 1946, in Virginia.

John Wesley Wegley Marriage Certificate

It is in this document we get further proof that his parents were Fred and Tillie Wegley.

Together John Wesley and his beloved wife Norma Jean had four children, Lynn (born in 1947) and Wesley (born in 1952), Janine (1955) and then Donald (1959).

 He died on November 1, 1982, in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. He was buried at the West Lawn Cemetery in Henryetta, Oklahoma. 

Robert Thomas Hoag Junior

Robert Thomas Hoag Junior was born on October 5, 1933, in Monessen, Pennsylvania. Please note: There are variations in his DOB. Some sources say October 5, 1933, while other official government documents state May 10, 1933. I will continue my research on this and let you know when I know 100% for sure what his birthday is.

His military records say October 5, 1933, but there is a social security claim that says he was born on May 10, 1933. However, the social security death records also say October 5, 1933. His gravestone says his date of birth is May 10, 1933.

He was the youngest child and the only son of Robert Thomas Hoag and Emma Marie Assel. Here he is listed in the 1940 US Census.

He died on September 4, 1988.

Robert T Hoag Jr. Obituary

According to Society Security death records, his social security number was 189-26-8975.

He served in their Air Force. His enlistment date was January 21, 1952, and he was released on January 20, 1956. This means he was on active duty during the Korean War.

He married Mary Cristan. Through family members, I am told she had a child but not from Robert Thomas Hoag Junior. Together they didn’t seem to have any children of their own.

Ben Donald Price

Ben Donald Price was born on April 18, 1925. He was the eldest child of Benjamin Franklin Price and Ethel Ann Hopson. He often when by the name Don or Donald Price.

Ben Donald Price

Ben Donald Price was born in what was then known as Grayson, in Jefferson county. However today the town is known as Waurika, Oklahoma.

His social security number was 526-24-0943, which can be found on the on the US Social Security Applications and Claims Index.

He was married to Elwynne May Lynell on June 4, 1949. They were very big into the Baptist church.

He died at the age of 79 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and was buried at the Resurrection Memorial Cemetery in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (find a grave page) His exact date of death was April 23, 2004. That means he died just a week after his 79th birthday.

 

Glen Edward Price

Glen Edward Price is my grandmother‘s older brother – making him my Great Uncle. He went by the name “Buddy”. Some people spell his name as Glenn Price but it was in fact Glen, not two n’s.

Glen Edward Price

Glen Edward Price - 2

He was born on July 27, 1927, in Waurika, Oklahoma.

His father was Benjamin Franklin Price and his mother was Ethel Ann Hopson.

His wife was Dorothy J Richardson. Apparently, she was no relation to us, it was just a crazy coincidence that she had the Richardson name. 🙂

They had a total of 4 children, Glen Jr, Gloria Jean, Freddy Dan and Joey.

Freddy Dan died on January 18, 2018. He had a stroke about 3 years prior and a friend of his had been taking care of him. Glen Jr. passed away about two years prior to that so about 2016 and that meant as of January of 2018 only Gloria Jean who they called sissy was still alive. Her family thought that she was still living somewhere in Mexico but know little else about her whereabouts.

He died of a cardiac arrest, due in part to his morbid obesity on August 3, 1982. His death certificate also tells us that he was a wrecker driver in Fort Worth, Texas. He was 55 years old. (Find a grave link)

Glen Edward Price Death Certificate

At one time he lived at 2411 Warwick Ave, Fort Worth, TX, 76106-7557 and at another time his recorded address was 2226 Robinwood Dr, Fort Worth, TX, 76111-5117.

His photos are obvious shots of him in the Navy. His death certificate also states that at some time he was in the US Armed Forces. My grandmother (his younger sister), Alice Joann Price thought he went into the US Navy in 1941, but I knew that couldn’t have been right since then he was only 14. I found it though on his US Department of Veteran Affairs Death File.

He was in the Navy. He enlisted on November 29, 1944. He was released on May 11, 1946.

 

Ethel Ann Hopson

Ethel Ann Hopson was my great-grandmother on my father’s side. She is my grandmother’s mother.

She was born on January 11, 1903 – most likely in Montague, Texas. I say that because this is where she lived during the 1910 federal census.

Ethal Hopson PriceSometime between 1910 and 1920, she moved to what today is known as Waurika, Oklahoma. Back then it was known as Grayson (Jefferson County), Oklahoma.

Two years later she would marry Benjamin Franklin Price on October 18, 1922. US Census records show us back then he was a farmer. That was just before the great depression.

They didn’t have children right away. They wouldn’t have their first child until 1925, 3 years after their marriage. Back then this was rather unusual. Most people back then married young and started popping out babies left and right.

In all, they had 5 children, only 4 of which would grow into adulthood. Their youngest child, Gloria Sue would die by the time she was 2.

  • Ben Donald Price (1925-2004)
  • Glen Edward Price (1927-1982)
  • Kenneth Price (1929-2012)
  • Alice Joann Price (1935-)
  • Gloria Sue Price (1943-1945)

Ethel Ann Hopson and her husband lived in Waurika almost their entire lives – at the end, however, she would be moved to an assisted living facility in Oklahoma City, OK which is where she would die on June 15, 1990.

Here is a picture of me, with my sisters Melody and April on their porch as young children in Waurika.