The first pictures in my husband's great-grandmother's photo album are of his great-grandmother and her husband.
Whitaker, Eva Bonnel. Bonnel Photo Album. c. 1885 - 1960. Privately held by granddaughter of E. B. Whitaker, McCook, NE. 1994.
Joe Whitaker was born 22 Dec. 1866 in Atchison County, KS. He died 25 June 1948 in Nortonville, Jefferson, KS and was buried in Nortonville Cemetery, Nortonville, Jefferson, KS. He was one of nine children born to Henry Lyman Whitaker and Harriet Merriam.
Eva Bonnel was born 12 Feb. 1869 in Center, Atchison, KS to Charles Frederick Bonnel and Mary Catherine (Mollie) Shouse. She was one of sixteen children. Eva died 27 Feb. 1963 in Benkelman, Dundy, NE and was buried in Benkelman Cemetery, Benkelman, Dundy, NE.
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| Joe & Eva Whitaker, undated. |
Eva and Joe were married 24 Dec. 1888 in Atchison County, KS. They had two surviving children. Harry Allen Whitaker was born 21 Nov. 1893 in Pardee, Atchison County, KS. Mary Irene Whitaker was born 23 May 1901 in Effingham, Atchison, KS. The couple separated and may have divorced once their children were grown. Though no mention has been made in the family of a legal divorce, Eva was listed in the 1920 census as divorced. Joe has not been found, but their children had moved out and were living independently. In both the 1930 and 1940 census Joe and Eva were listed as widowed and enumerated in separate households in the small town of Nortonville. Both lived on Main Street.
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| Eva Whitaker, "Grandma Bonnel" c. 1960. |
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| Joe Whitaker with his eldest great-grandchild in 1943. |
Sources
Whitaker, Eva Bonnel. Bonnel Photo Album. c. 1885 - 1960. Privately held by granddaughter of E. B. Whitaker, McCook, NE. 1994.
"United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MF6F-ZML : accessed 29 May 2013), Eva Whitaker, 1920.
"United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X7QH-91R : accessed 29 May 2013), Eva Whittaker, 1930.
"United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X7QH-9PZ : accessed 29 May 2013), Joe Whittaker, 1930.
"United States Census, 1940," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VRKC-LP5 : accessed 28 May 2013), Eva Whitaker, Nortonville, Norton Township, Jefferson, Kansas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 44-9, sheet 4A, family 85, NARA digital publication T627, roll 1236.
"United States Census, 1940," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VRKC-B6T : accessed 28 May 2013), Joseph Whitaker, Nortonville, Norton Township, Jefferson, Kansas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 44-9, sheet 6B, family 151, NARA digital publication T627, roll 1236.
