Difference between revisions of "Wayne A. Chambers"
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** Son-in-law of [[James Elgie Beals]] and [[Winnifred May Kline]] | ** Son-in-law of [[James Elgie Beals]] and [[Winnifred May Kline]] | ||
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| − | + | Wayne Alfred Chambers was born in 1917 in Williamsburg, Blair Co. PA, the 4th child and second son of Ross A. & Emma Anderson Chambers. Wayne said that his father had named him for his boss, Alfred W. Cook, "not that it ever did me any good". (However we note that Ross A. Chambers' middle name was Althard, so perhaps Wayne was named for his father.) <br> Wayne finished the 3rd grade of school, skipped 4th grade, and was starting 5th grade when a family disaster required him to drop out of school and begin working to help support the family. (See [[Biography of Wayne Alfred Chambers|Complete Biography]]). His brother Roland had been working away from home on a farm. Roland went to watch a ballgame somewhere and climbed a pole for a better view. He was shocked severely by electrical wires. The farm family became concerned when he didn't bring the cows home on time. Eventually Roland came in, and immediately passed out; he required hospitalization for several months. Their father, [[Ross A. Chambers]], signed working papers, which under hardship conditions permitted a child to be absent from school. (Wayne said Roland had finished 8th grade, and of all his siblings, only Charlotte finished high school.)<br>As a teenager Wayne worked digging coal. In 1933 he worked at Pitchpine, Clarion Co., for John White. In 1934 he worked for Danny Lechner. In 1935 his family moved to Clarion Co. PA.<br> In the spring of 1942 he joined the Army, and he was shipped to Europe on the Queen Mary, to serve as a tank driver in Germany, Belgium, Holland and near the Russian line. He also served as a truck driver (ration trucks, mail trucks) in the rear. <br>At some point he met Bertha Irene Beals. He had attended a church service or concert where Bertha was singing with a chorus, and Wayne said she was the prettiest girl he had ever seen. They married in September of 1943. They first rented a house at Fern, PA. Their second residence was at Van, 1/2 mile south of the intersection of PA Rt. 38 and U.S. Rt. 322, "past the (present day)Snack Shack". Then they purchased a property in Kossuth. He built a 12 ft. x 24 ft. "shanty" where he, Bertha, and their son born in June 1944 could live until he completed building their house. The house was apparently completed before 1947 when a daughter was born; Wayne said that only the 3 of them lived in the shanty. Two more children were born, a son in 1950 and a daughter in 1954. In 1968 two additional rooms were added, the present-day kitchen and living room. In the 1970's Wayne decided to brick the house, but to utilize the same foundation, he moved each wall back 4 inches, one wall at a time. <br> Wayne was a constable for Ashland Township for 36 years. He and Bertha drove school buses for Keystone School District. Wayne worked for C&K Coal Co., as a foreman running dozers, doing mostly back fill, but also stripped coal at Ridgeway and New Bethlehem. From 1972-1979 Wayne worked for Carl Wagner at Wagner & Hartle. In 1979 C&K laid him off, and he retired from Wagner & Hartle the same year. In the 1980's he and Bertha did commission upholstery work. Wayne constructed and sold miniature vehicles (trains, cars, trucks, dune buggies, a fork lift) using golf cart motors. These were featured at a variety of parades around the area, and were sold to buyers from various states. In 2003, the year of Wayne & Bertha's 60th wedding anniversary, their extended family included their four children, 10 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. At the time of his death in 2009, there were 10 great-grandchildren. | |
| + | <br>This biography is compiled from a 2008 interview, the 2003 anniversary announcement, and the 2009 obituary of Wayne A. Chambers. | ||
| + | His adult occupation was as a carpenter. | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! || Date || Location || Notes || Sources | ! || Date || Location || Notes || Sources | ||
| Line 16: | Line 18: | ||
| '''Birth''' ||25 Feb. 1917 || || || <sup class="reference">[4]</sup> | | '''Birth''' ||25 Feb. 1917 || || || <sup class="reference">[4]</sup> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | '''Marriage''' || || || To [[Bertha Irene Beals]] ||<sup class="reference"></sup> | + | | '''Marriage''' ||7 Sept 1943 ||Franklin, Venango Co. PA || To [[Bertha Irene Beals]] ||<sup class="reference">[6]</sup> |
|- | |- | ||
| '''Death''' ||Sat. 13 June 2009 ||at home, Kossuth, Clarion Co. PA || || <sup class="reference">[4]</sup> | | '''Death''' ||Sat. 13 June 2009 ||at home, Kossuth, Clarion Co. PA || || <sup class="reference">[4]</sup> | ||
Revision as of 15:24, 6 July 2009
Wayne Alfred Chambers was born in 1917 in Williamsburg, Blair Co. PA, the 4th child and second son of Ross A. & Emma Anderson Chambers. Wayne said that his father had named him for his boss, Alfred W. Cook, "not that it ever did me any good". (However we note that Ross A. Chambers' middle name was Althard, so perhaps Wayne was named for his father.)
Wayne finished the 3rd grade of school, skipped 4th grade, and was starting 5th grade when a family disaster required him to drop out of school and begin working to help support the family. (See Complete Biography). His brother Roland had been working away from home on a farm. Roland went to watch a ballgame somewhere and climbed a pole for a better view. He was shocked severely by electrical wires. The farm family became concerned when he didn't bring the cows home on time. Eventually Roland came in, and immediately passed out; he required hospitalization for several months. Their father, Ross A. Chambers, signed working papers, which under hardship conditions permitted a child to be absent from school. (Wayne said Roland had finished 8th grade, and of all his siblings, only Charlotte finished high school.)
As a teenager Wayne worked digging coal. In 1933 he worked at Pitchpine, Clarion Co., for John White. In 1934 he worked for Danny Lechner. In 1935 his family moved to Clarion Co. PA.
In the spring of 1942 he joined the Army, and he was shipped to Europe on the Queen Mary, to serve as a tank driver in Germany, Belgium, Holland and near the Russian line. He also served as a truck driver (ration trucks, mail trucks) in the rear.
At some point he met Bertha Irene Beals. He had attended a church service or concert where Bertha was singing with a chorus, and Wayne said she was the prettiest girl he had ever seen. They married in September of 1943. They first rented a house at Fern, PA. Their second residence was at Van, 1/2 mile south of the intersection of PA Rt. 38 and U.S. Rt. 322, "past the (present day)Snack Shack". Then they purchased a property in Kossuth. He built a 12 ft. x 24 ft. "shanty" where he, Bertha, and their son born in June 1944 could live until he completed building their house. The house was apparently completed before 1947 when a daughter was born; Wayne said that only the 3 of them lived in the shanty. Two more children were born, a son in 1950 and a daughter in 1954. In 1968 two additional rooms were added, the present-day kitchen and living room. In the 1970's Wayne decided to brick the house, but to utilize the same foundation, he moved each wall back 4 inches, one wall at a time.
Wayne was a constable for Ashland Township for 36 years. He and Bertha drove school buses for Keystone School District. Wayne worked for C&K Coal Co., as a foreman running dozers, doing mostly back fill, but also stripped coal at Ridgeway and New Bethlehem. From 1972-1979 Wayne worked for Carl Wagner at Wagner & Hartle. In 1979 C&K laid him off, and he retired from Wagner & Hartle the same year. In the 1980's he and Bertha did commission upholstery work. Wayne constructed and sold miniature vehicles (trains, cars, trucks, dune buggies, a fork lift) using golf cart motors. These were featured at a variety of parades around the area, and were sold to buyers from various states. In 2003, the year of Wayne & Bertha's 60th wedding anniversary, their extended family included their four children, 10 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. At the time of his death in 2009, there were 10 great-grandchildren.
This biography is compiled from a 2008 interview, the 2003 anniversary announcement, and the 2009 obituary of Wayne A. Chambers.
His adult occupation was as a carpenter.
| Date | Location | Notes | Sources | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | 25 Feb. 1917 | [4] | ||
| Marriage | 7 Sept 1943 | Franklin, Venango Co. PA | To Bertha Irene Beals | [6] |
| Death | Sat. 13 June 2009 | at home, Kossuth, Clarion Co. PA | [4] | |
| Burial | Wed. 17 June 2009 | Ashland United Methodist, Clarion Co. PA |
[4][5] |
Ancestry chart segment
Generation 2 Generation 3 Generation 4 Generation 5
+-- James Chambers
| (1816->1870)
+-- Samuel Chambers --+
| (1846-1910) |
+-- Ross A. Chambers --+ +-- Susan unknown
| (1879-1957) | (~1819->1870-????)
Wayne Alfred Chambers --+ +-- Dorcas unknown
(1917-2009) | (1851-1890)
+-- Emma Anderson
(1892-1979)
Sources:
Photos
Sources
| Ref. Num. | Description | Image of original |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1920 United States Federal Census District 132, White Twp, Indiana Co, PA, page 26. Census dated 25 Feb 1920. Lines 68-75: R.A. Chambers, head, 40, carpenter; Emma, wife, 27; Roland, son, 8, in school; Ethyl, dau, 7, in school; Charlotte, dau, 5; Wayne, son, 2 yrs 11 mo.; Edward, son, 1 yr o mo.; Earnest, son, 1 yr. 0 mo. All and all parents b. PA. Parents can read and write. |
 |
| 2 | 1930 United States Federal Census District 24, Kiskimipetas Twp, Armstrong Co, PA, page 13. Census dated 11 Apr 1930. Lines 29-39: Ross A. Chambers, head, 50, first married at age 20,carpenter, owns home, value $1000, no radio; Emma, wife, 38, first married at age 18; Roland, son, 18, farm laborer; Ethyl, dau, 17, in school; Charlotte, dau, 15, in school; Wayne, son, 13, in school; Edward, son, 11, in school; Earnest, son, 11, in school; Alice, dau, 7, in school; Samuel, son, 6; Violet, dau, 3 months. All and all parents b. PA. All and all parents b. PA. Parents can read and write. |
 |
| 3 | Bertha I. Beals (Chambers) personal knowledge given through oral interviews and accompanying on farm and cemetery visits in Venango & Clarion Counties, PA. Living. | |
| 4 | Obituary of Wayne A. Chambers, The Derrick, 15 June 2009. Wayne A. Chambers, 92, of Kossuth died at 9:25 pm Sat. 13 June 2009. Born Alfred Wayne Chambers 25 Feb 1917 in Williamsburg, Blair Co. PA, he was one of 10 children of the late Ross A. Chambers & Emma C. Anderson Chambers. He was married 7 Sept 1943 by the Rev. B. E. Coleman at his residence in Franklin to Bertha I. Beals. They celebrated their 65th anniversary last September. He is survived by 4 children, 10 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren, 3 sisters, 2 sisters-in-law. Preceded in death by parents, 6 siblings. (See complete text for names.) Funeral by William N. Rupert Mortuary of Knox on Wed. June 17; interment at Ashalnd United Methodist Church Cemetery. |
(See complete text) |
| 5 | Gravestone transcriptions, Ashland United Methodist Cemetery, Ashland Twp., Clarion Co. PA. Transcribed June 2007 by Elizabeth Wilson Williams.
| |
| 6 | Wedding Certificate for Wayne A. Chambers and Bertha I. Beals, in documents of Bertha I Beals Chambers, photocopy submitted to us by Nancy Beals Walls 2004. "This Certifies that Wayne A. Chambers of Fort Benning Georgia and Bertha I. Beals of Emlenton, Pa. were by me united in Holy Matrimony at Franklin, Pa. According to the Ordinance of God and the laws of Pennsylvania on the 7th day of September in the Year of Our Lord 1943. (Signed by) Rev. B. E. Coleman, Miriam Weaver, R. A. Chambers Note: The 3 "signatures", minister and witnesses, seem to all be in same handwriting. |
 |
| 7 | Wedding announcements for Wayne A. Chambers & Bertha I. Beals, newspapers not specified, (expect The Derrick (Oil City), The Clarion News); photocopies submitted to us by Nancy Beals Walls 2004. Miss Bertha I. Beals, daughter of Mr & Mrs Elgie Beals of near Emlenton, R. D. 1, wed Corporal Wayne A. Chambers of Fort Benning, Ga., son of Mr. & Mrs. R. A. Chambers, of Van, Pa; at 8 p.m. Tue. at the residence of Rev. B. E. Coleman, superintendent of the Johnstown district of the Evangelical Church, who read the double-ring ceremony. Bridesmaid was Miss Miriam Weaver, Knox. The bridegroom's father acted as best man. Mrs. Chambers is employed in the research laboratory of Qaker State Refinery at Emlenton. |
  |
| 6 | 1880 United States Federal Census, District 71, Limestone Twp, Clarion Co, PA, page 25. Census dated 21 June 1880. Lines 32-37: Samuel Chambers, 31, laborer; Dorcas, 28, keeping house; Purmula, 6, dau.; Emma, 4, dau; Laura, 2, dau; Ross A., 1, son. All and all parents b. PA. This is the family of Wayne Chambers grandparents. |
 |
| 7 | 1900 United States Federal Census, District 159, Pine Grove Twp, Venango Co, PA, page 23. Census dated 1 June 1900. Lines 40-41: Ross A. Chambers, head, 21, b. May 1879, married 0 years, common laborer, rents home; Myrtle, wife, 17, b. Nov 1882, married 0 years. All and all parents b. PA. All can read and write English. This is Wayne Chambers father an his first wife. |
 |
| 8 | 1900 United States Federal Census, District 1, Ashland Twp, Clarion Co, PA, page 13. Census dated 13 June 1900. Lines 37-40: Samuel Chambers, head, 53, b. July 1846, widower, farmer, own farm; Dora L., dau, 19, b. Jan 1881,; Milton A., son, 16, b. Oct 1883, day laborer; Clarance G., son, 13, b. Oct 1886, at school. All and parents b. PA except Samuel's father b. NJ. All can read, write and speak English. |
 |
| 9 | 1850 United States Federal Census, Venango Twp, Butler Co, PA, page 32. Census dated 18 Sept 1850. James Chambers, head, 34, farmer, $1000 real property, b. NJ; Susan, 28, b. PA; John, 11, b. PA; Mary, 8, b. PA; Samuel, 4, b. PA; Florence, 1, b. PA. |
 |
| 10 | 1860 United States Federal Census, Allegheny Twp, Butler Co, PA, pages 11-12. Census dated 11 June 1860. Lines 36-40 (pg 11), 1-4 (pg 12): James Chambers, head, 46, farmer, $2500 real, $1000 personal property, b. NJ; Susan, 41; John S., 21, farmer; Mary, 17; Samuel, 13; Florence, 11; Charles, 5; Harriet, 3; Sarah, 2. Born PA except for James. Mary and Samuel attended school. |
  |
| 11 | 1870 United States Federal Census, Allegheny Twp, Butler Co, PA, page 4. Census dated 24 Aug 1860. Lines 13-20: James Chambers, head, 56, farmer, $3200 real, $400 personal property, b. NJ; Susan, 46; Samuel, 23; Charles, 19; Florence, 16; Jane, 14; Sarah, 12; Abraham L., 4. Born PA except for James. Charles, Florence, Jane and Sarah attended school. There is some variance here in ages and names. |
 |
| 12 | U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
about Wayne A Chambers Name: Wayne A Chambers Birth Year: 1917 Race: White, citizen (White) Nativity State or Country: Pennsylvania State of Residence: Pennsylvania County or City: Clarion Enlistment Date: 22 Apr 1942 Enlistment State: Pennsylvania Enlistment City: New Cumberland Branch: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA Branch Code: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA Grade: Private Grade Code: Private Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men) Source: Civil Life Education: Grammar school Civil Occupation: Carpenters Marital Status: Single, without dependents Height: 69 Weight: 143 |
Source Notes
- In the 1910 Census (President Twp, Venango Co, PA, pages 7,8) shows Ross A. Chambers as a widower living with his father and sister (names are illegible). This would indicate that Myrtle has died and that he has not yet married Emma.
