1900-1999 – Tracy and Family

Howard Wegley

Howard Wegley was born on April 26, 1903, in Kane, Pennsylvania. He was my great-granduncle.

Howard J. Wegley died at the age of 33 from a fatal bout of pneumonia. His date of death was January 17, 1937. You’ll see in his obituary which was posted on January 18th that it said he died “yesterday” making his death the 17th. This was printed in The Kane Republican, on page six.

We also know his date of death from his death certificate.

It was from this that we learned at the time of his death he lived at 22 Mission East Parkway, in Pittsburgh, PA. We also know that he first reported having symptoms on January 10th and admitted for care on January 14th. He died a few days later on January 17, 1937, at 12:50 am at Allegheny General Hospital.

His obituary says he was survived by his wife but his death certificate says he was divorce. His wife was Olive Rush Hooks. She would go on to remarry in 1948 – a man by the name of William Macaluso.

Howard Wegley and Olive Rush Hooks were married on. They had one child together, a boy named Leroy G. Wegley. He was born on September 16, 1930 (he died on June 19, 2014).

Howard Wegley was sentenced on March 11, 1935, to the Allegheny County Workhouse (Prisoner # 39227.

The Allegheny County Workhouse was a prison that was located adjacent to the town of Blawnox, Pennsylvania. Its full name was “Allegheny County Workhouse and Inebriate Asylum”. The first inmates were received in 1869, and the facility closed in 1971. The prison housed mostly inmates convicted of minor offenses. Many of those prisoners maintained a farm of about 1100 acres (445 ha), which contained apple orchards as well as many other crops and many different types of farm animals.

It was in this record we learned a little more about what Howard looked like. He was 5’7″, and weighed 113 pounds when he entered and 122 when he left.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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)

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.

Sometime 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.