GEORGE WARREN SKINNER - VIOLA MAY LEAP

Local Pages:
Richard Skinner Jr. - Elizabeth Corson
William Harrison Skinner - Lizzie Sparks
Earl Skinner - Lillian Showalter

 

GEORGE WARREN SKINNER, son of William Henry ("Harry") Skinner and Mary Elizabeth ("Lizzie") Sparks, she of Gloucester City, NJ
"Warren" [KDS]
b. Feb. 8, 1877 Glassboro, N.J.
d. Aug 23, 1970 Sanibel Island, FL
died age 93
pub. Wed. 8/26/1970 Woodbury Daily Times, Frank Jones, F. D. [KDS]
buried August 29 Manahath Cem., Glassboro, NJ , graveside service [KDS]
m.

w. VIOLA MAY LEAP
"May" [KDS]
adopted dau. of Mary S. Leap [KDS]
b. May 19, 1875 [Annette]
d. January 6, 1963 Lady of Lourdes Hosp., Camden, NJ, buried Manahath Cem., Glassboro, NJ [Annette]
died age 87
Mary S. Leap died June 26, 1926 at age 88 [HES]
 
CHILDREN:
 
1. HARRY EARL SKINNER ["Earl"; "H. Earl" in written form]
[Earl and Lillian's info per KDS]
b. May 17, 1901
Parish Street, Phila, PA
d. April 19, 1990 Marlton, NJ [Annette}
m. June 10, 1927 Norwood Methodist Church, Norwood, PA
w. LILLIAN CHARLOTTE SHOWALTER ["Lillian", "MiMi"]
dau. of Joseph Blair Showalter and Bertha Jane Dodd
b. Dec 7, 1903 Fairmont, W. Virginia
d. Living Wiley Retirement Community, Marlton, NJ
 
2. MARY GLADYS SKINNER ["Gladys"]
b. May 9, 1909 Phila, PA
d. January 14, 1994, age 85, buried Willow Street Mennonite Cem., Willow St., PA [Annette]
m. Oct 30, 1937 Aldan Union Church, Aldan, PA by Rev. William Allan Dean
h. WILLIAM CAMPBELL HUGHLETT, son of Campbell Hughlett and Mary Bryan
b. 1908, Trappe, MD
d. living 1966 at 611 Orchard Way, Lansdowne, PA
deceased 2003 [KDS]

Children:

1. WILLIAM RICHARD HUGHLETT ["Dick"]
b. Apr 21, 1939 at Phila, PA
Graduated Drexel Institute, Phila, PA
w. _____
children: _____

2. CONSTANCE LENORE HUGHLETT ["Connie"]
church organist from childhood [KDS]
b. Apr 30, 1944 at Phila, PA
d. living 1966 at 219 Urban Ave., Holmes, PA
h1. JOHN ABT
h2. _____

 
Ref.: Mary Gladys Skinner Hughlett, 611 Orchard Way, Lansdown, PA, 1966
Tombstones, Manahath Cemetery, Glassboro, NJ
 
------------------------------

All of the above per files of VEM dated 1/17/1975/VEM, except as noted with other sources.
 
 
 
KDS COMMENTARY (9/4/1995/KDS):
 
Viola May was adopted as a young child. Her 'birth' mother was a widow who performed work (probably housework) for Mary S. Leap. The 'birth' mother wanted to remarry and to facilitate that, gave her young child, May, to Mrs. Leap.Mrs. Leap was relatively wealthy and had grown fond of the youg girl. Lillian Skinner believes that Mr. Leap probably had little to say in the matter.

Years later, according to Lillian Skinner, Warren and May Skinner visited May's ‘birth’ mother, who was then running a boarding house. They saw something at the house they did not like - I believe it was children playing cards on the front porch on Sunday. They left never to return. This Methodist strictness originated from Mrs. Leap, and was passed down to May and later, Gladys - May's daughter.

Lillian told me in the 1990’s that May’s last name at birth may have been Chew. I doubt this is accurate as I was told during my youth that her actual name was unknown to the family.

May had older sisters (one or two?) of which nothing is known. Lillian often told a story of something that happened in a Phila. Strawbridges store. She saw a photograph in the store of someone who resembled May. May said it could have been an older sister.

Lillian Skinner spent much time with Warren and May, both prior to and after her marriage to Earl. Lillian worked in the Ridley Park area as a nurse. She was located much closer to Warren and May in the Norwood area, than her own family in Downingtown. Lillian would often take May on errands, since May did not drive.

Notice of Mary Leap's death in 1920 was mailed from Cape May, NJ and indicatd that the services would be held at 433 Main St., Glassboro. Not sure whether the church or funeral home was at that address.

According to Marion Smith, Warren Skinner lived at his parent’s house on Main St. (my notes indicate 66 Main St.) left Glassboro when he was twenty. Lillian recalls that he left home at seventeen. Warren and May met because they attended the same church, undoubtedly the Glassboro Methodist church where Warren's father sang tenor in the choir for 55 years. Warren's mother also helped to do cleaning at that church. The Glassboro Methodist church no longer exists.

May was not particularly fond of Warren at first. He courted her, sometimes riding from Glassboro to a Phila. store where she worked. I recall stories of him riding his motorcycle into Phila. as a youth.

The date of the marriage of Warren and May is unknown. After their marriage, Marion Smith recalls that May and Warren lived on Woodbury-Glassboro road, between Woodbury Heights and Pitman, in a large house located just before the intersection with a road to Sewell, on a hill on the right side. Had a spring.

Warren worked at Washington Park, NJ in the summer of 1900 (age 23). Not sure if he was married at the time.

" Washington Park On The Delaware":

Washington Park opened in 1895 and was one of the most popular and largest amusement parks in the world. The park was located on a two mile stretch of the Delaware River, between Red Bank and Westville, NJ. It extended inland to rt. 130. The park today is the site of the Eagle Point Refinery.

The park featured every major amusement ride of the day. Many of the amusements were first introduced to the world at this park, and many were the largest of their type in the world. The park featured a 100-ft. tall ferris wheel and numerous gravity trains (roller coasters). The park also included the "Shoot the Chute" in which boats carrying sixteen persons traveled down greased skids into a pool. Major entertainers performed at the park. The first flickers, movies played on a white sheet, were at the park. The nightly fireworks were preceded by skits performed at the world-famous electric fountain, a lighted water fountain complex with a glass cage for actors.

Billy Thompson, the Irish owner, ran trolley tracks to Woodbury with spurs to Almonesson and Manutua, NJ. The park was undoubtedly connected to the Camden and Westville trolley lines as well. And Thompson operated a series of large ferry boats to bring in people from Philadelphia and eastern PA, across the river.

The deep river channel was far from the shallow, sloping land on the Jersey side of the river. As a result, Thompson built an 1800-ft. long pier into the river to achieve the 10-ft. draft necessary for his ferries. Both a trolley and a gravity-train system carried the ferry passengers to the amusements.

The park burned to the ground in 1909 and was partially rebuilt. It burned a final time in 1913.

During World War I, the site became home to the Woodbury Bag Loading Plant, which packaged powder for the army. Today, the Eagle Point Refinery sits on the site.

Above Washington Park history per www.westvillenj.com/wonderfulwashingtonpark.html

Warren may also have worked at Camden's New York ship yards when young.

Warren relocated to PA working as a machinist at the Baldwin Locomotive works, when it was located just off Market St. in downtown Phila. While at Baldwin, Warren and May lived on Parish St. in Phila, during which time their son Earl was born, and later at 2145 Carlisle St. in Phila, about a block from the old Reading Main Line. His son, Earl, recalls living at the Carlisle St. address.

Warren and May then moved south to the Prospect Park, Ridley Park, Norwood area, either when Baldwin relocated to that general vicinity or later, when Warren took a job with the Westinghouse Works in Lester, Pa. He worked at Westinghouse until retirement. My father, a train enthusiast, recalls that Warren assisted in the fabrication of steam locomotive crank rods.

Warren's address was 40 Wenonah Avenue, Norwood in 1920, according to the notice that was mailed to him concerning the death of May's foster mother - Mary S. Leap. Lillian recalls that Earl lived with his parents on Main St. in Prospect Park when she first met him. Earl's family is actually listed as being of Norwood according to their newspaper announcement in 1927.

In 1927, Warren and his sister Ursula Thoman were named as Executors in their father's Will.

Warren and May spent most of the remainder of their lives at Norwood in a twin home at 812 Washington Ave., a road that runs parallel to the main street in Norwood and just behind the movie theatre (now gone). They lived at that address until May’s death in 1963. Daughter Gladys and son-in-law Bill Hughlett lived just around the corner from them at 632 Penna. Ave. from 1949 to 1965.

Earl and Lillian also lived in Norwood after their marriage. Earl lived there while working at O. J. Ketchum's. They later moved to nearby Morton. My father recalls spending his earliest years in both Norwood and Morton.

I recall several visits to Warren and May in the early 1960's. On our final visit there, Warren drove us in his 1949 dark green (almost black) auto to run an errand. My Dad recalls the ride saying that Warren was not really strong enough to actuate the brakes. I also recall a visit to the house shortly after they moved out (following the death of May in 1963).

Warren’s health declined rapidly after the death of his wife in 1963. Warrem began to exhibit Alzheimer-type symptoms for the duration of the 1960’s. Warren was alive until I was sixteen (1970), but I never really had the opportunity to get to know him because he had become a frail person, talking in a barely discernable voice, hearing little, and thinking he had to ‘hitch up a horse and go to work." Lillian would patiently spoon him meals. I do remember he was always well-dressed and smiled when I got my camera out.

Note that Warren's daughter, Gladys, tested positive for Alzheimers (posthumous testing). Also note that Warren's son, Earl, also exibited Alzheimer symptoms - repeating himself in conversation, etc., but only for a few years at the end of his life.

When May passed away in 1963, Warren was taken care of by daughter Gladys (and Bill) Huglett. By 1965, Warren was moved to the care of Lillian and Earl, as Lillian, a former nurse, felt comfortable in carrying out the necessary chores to care of him. Lillian indicates that Earl did not have a strong say in the decision, as she was the one to do the work.

In 1965, Earl retired from his job as an insurance salesman and they sold their Walker Ave home in Deptford in preparation for the construction of a retirement home on Sanibel Island, FL. Earl, Lillian and Warren spent the following year in a mobile home at Haney's trailer park while awaiting construction of the Florida home. The trailer park was located in West Debtford (Therofare), along rt. 295, next to Matteo's junk yard. While there, Warren would ocassionally wonder off as a result of his failing mind.

In 1966, Earl and Lillian, and Warren moved to Tahiti Drive, Sanibel Island. In 1968, in my first visit there, Warren tried to lead me through thick vegetation towards the Gulf of Mexico to show me NY Ship, indicating that Camden's NY Ship may have been one of the places he worked at when young.

Warren once asked Lillian who was the nice young man who dressed him in the morning. That was his son, Earl.

Warren passed away in his sleep in Florida in 1970. We were away at the time of the funeral, though our house was used for the reception. Earl's sister, Gladys, said at the funeral that she was surprised Warren had lasted so long.

Warren had light blue eyes and a light complexion and looked very much like cousin Marion Smith. Warren's daughter Gladys looked similar. Warren's son Earl, had stronger facial features, a stronger personality and was taller than Warren, resembling his mother May in those respects. May appears in photographs to be nearly as tall as Warren. Lillian recalls that Warren did not have a strong personality and that May was the "guiding light" of the household.

A Batten family were close friends of Warren and May Skinner. According to letters that I have, the Batten friendship with May and Warren lasted until the 1950's. A member of the Batten family was named Warren Batten in honor of their family friend, Warren Skinner. According to Earl, the Battens had a large farm below Camden.

I have one letter signed with the initials C. B. That is likely Mrs. Batten, from whom the family friendship would have originated. The letter was addressed to 'friends' and evidently was sent to Warren and May Skinner. Also have a photo of Mrs. Batten.

Mrs. Batten appears to have been one generation earlier than May and Warren, and probably died about 1920. As a result, I am guessing Mrs. Batten would originally have been friends with May's foster mother, Mrs. Leap.

Batten family members mentioned in letters in my possession include:

Albert, brother of Mrs. Batten
George and wife Gladys
Belmont and wife Martha
Raymond and wife Pearl; Raymond likely son of Mrs. Batten
Russell and son Warren
Retha

Internet sources indicate that Retha Batten donated her family genealogy to the Glou. Co. Historical Society at Woodbury. Would be nice to touch base with the family as we have a photo of Mrs. Batten, a letter written by her, letters written by her children or grandchildren, and the fact that Warren Batten, probably her grandson, was named for Warren Skinner.

 

KDS COMMENTARY - MARY S. LEAP:

The name of Mary S. Leap’s husband was unknown in our family. Lillian has said the husband was a Judge and his family may have been from Media, Pa.

These were my limited notes on Mary S. Leap, obtained from Earl Skinner:

Mary S. Leap (b. ca1832 - d. June, 1920, age 88) md. _____
children:
1. Ellison Leap married Abbey (Abigail)_____
children:
Mary Leap married h1 ___ Parks
child - Kenneth Parks
Mary Leap married h2 ___ Wood (related to Wood School Bus Comp.)
children - five
Emma Leap - wild character, smoked cigars
Frank Leap - committed suicide
2. Viola May _____ - adopted daughter of the Leaps

I have a photograph of someone named Atlanta Garton. The photograph identifies her as being sister to Mary S. Leap.

The middle intial 'S' of Mary Leap is verified in several places. The middle initial appears on the back of a photograph of Mary and appears again on the back of the photograph of sister Atlanta Garton. In addition, Mary signed a letter with her middle initial and the initial appears in the notice of her death in 1920.

The 1880 census reveals the husband of Mary S. Leap. The census for Washington Twp., Glou. Co., NJ includes a Joseph A. Leap and wife Mary S. Leap. Both are shown as being age 50. The Glou. Co. locale and middle initial confirm this is the Mary S. Leap of interest to our family. My grandfather left me a notation saying that Mary died at age 88 (in 1920). Depending upon the exact month of her birth, she would have been born in either 1831 or 1832. This is slightly off from the census record that indicates she was age fifty in 1880.

There are two marriages concerning Mary and Joseph Leap:

1. 1853 marriage of Joseph Leap and Mary Dare, recorded at Woodbury, Glou Co. Mary Dare, according to other sources, was born Dec 22, 1829. This would make her the same age as the 50 year old Mary S. Leap recorded in the 1880 census.

As a side note, I have a photograph of a Maggie Bare. The surname of Bare does not exist in NJ records during the 1800's. One wonders if the photo was actually of Maggie Dare - thus a relative of Mary Dare, wife to Joseph Leap. The Dare surname was common in South Jersey in the 1800's.

2. 1867 marriage of Joseph Leap and Mary _____ , last name unknown, at Washington Twp., Camden Co, NJ

This is the same Wahington Twp locale identified as being the home of Mary and Joseph Leap in the 1880 census.

Washington Twp is shown here as being part of Camden Co. That is correct - It was temporarily part of Camden Co from 1844 to 1871.

Whether this is the same Josep Leap as the 1853 marriage is not known.

Note that I have not seen the actual marriage records themselves. These marriages are simply info submiitted to the Church of Latter Day Saints (www.familysearch.org). This 1867 marriage may be accurate, but I am guessing someone took the Washington Twp locale from census records, not from a marriage record.

The latter marriage of 1867 would have occured after the birth of Ellison, only known child of Joseph and Mary. Ellison's birth date is unknown, but Ellison's first child (grandchild of Joseph and Mary) was born just thirteen years after the above 1867 marriage. Ellison could only be a product of the 1853 marriage of Joseph to Mary Dare.

The Mary S. Leap of interest to our family could be Mary Dare, who married Joseph Leap in 1853. If this is the same Joseph Leap who married (again) in 1867, then 'our' Mary S. Leap would have to be the second wife.

Mary S. Leap died in 1920. My grandfather's notes indicate she died at age 88. This would result in a birth in 1831 or 1832. This is out of line with the birth of Mary Dare in 1829 and is also out of line with the census that would point to a birth in 1829 or 1830.

I have found no internet information or official records indentifying the children of Joseph and Mary Leap. Family information shows one son Ellison and adopted daughter Viola May.

There is plenty of information concerning Ellison and his offspring on the internet. His full name was actually Ellison Turner Leap. The Turner name appears to result from the fact that three of the siblings of his father - Joseph Leap, married into the Turner family. A letter written by Mary S. Leap in my possession also makes mention of a Mrs. Turner.

I have an envelope stamped 1913 with a return address of E. A. Leap, Glassboro. That would likely be Ellison Leap. In the previous paragraph, his middle initial was identified as being T, not A. ?

Internet information concerning the children of Ellison Leap is in line with our own family information. Internet information indicates that Ellison's son, Frank Leap, died in 1913. A letter from Mary S. Leap (Frank's grandmother) in my possession indicates that Ellison's wife, Abbie, went down to Bethel, NJ in October, 1913 to look at Frank's tombstones and that there had been tragedy in the family that week.

One surprising piece of information is that Ellison's daughter, Emma Leap, lived until 1961. I never heard anyone in my family make mention of visiting or knowing her. I did here some limited information about Emma's sister - Mary. She married a Mr. Wood, of the Wood bus company.

 

KDS COMMENTARY - Viola May Skinner's Identity:

Viola May was the adopted daughter of the Leaps. Her birth name was unknown within our family - presumably known only by May and her husband Warren. May was nearly two generations removed from the Leaps who adopted her.

The 1880 census of the Leap household may reveal May's indentity. The census does not list any children for Joseph and Mary living at home. Their son Ellison would have been living on his own at the time, since Ellison's first child was born in the year of that census.

The census, however, does list two individuals who were living with Joseph and Mary Leap, but who were not children. The first is Nancy Wright, a seventeen year old who is identified as being 'help'. This is in line with family information that indicates that the Leaps had also employed the mother of Viola May as help (a housekeeper).

The second person living with the Leaps was a six year old child named Yolah M. Cauley. I believe that 'Yolah' is a form of the name 'Viola'. Thus, Viola May was born Viola (or Yolah) May Cauley.

Viola May would have turned age 5 in the 1880 census year. Yolah M. Cauley is shown in the census as being age 6. It would be interesting to see the actual date on which the census-taker visited the household.

 

Artifacts:
 
movie pictures
letters to/from Mary S. Leap, Abbie Leap, and the Battens (family friends)
1962 Christmas tape recording made by my father at our house - includes voices of Warren and May
funeral information for Mary S. Leap, Warren and May

 

Images:

photographs - Warren and May Skinner with children Earl and Gladys

photographs - Warren Youth

photographs - May and Warren, circa 1960

photographs - Four Generations; Aug, 1967; Rear Driveway of Tahiti Drive, Sanibel, my Kodak Instamatic camera

photographs - May and Gladys

photographs - Mary S. Leap

photographs - Emma and Frank Leap

photographs - Battens

 

Leap Family Exhibits

Exhibit - 1880 Census per www.familysearch.org:

Exhbit - Marriage Records per www.familysearch.org:

Exhibit - Records per www.familysearch.org:

Exhibit - Turner Genealogy per www.ancestry.com, 2003, submitted by Barbara McCormick (geneslady@ec.rr.com):

Exhibit - Leap Genealogy per www.ancestry.com, 2003, submitted by Barbara McCormick (geneslady@ec.rr.com):

 

Batten Family Exhibits

Exhibit - Russell J. Batten per www.familysearch.org, submitted by Robert Parks:

Cawley Family Background

Exhibit - http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/message/an/surnames.cauley/54.81.82.97, 2003:

Exhibit - per Cawley Forum at genforum.genealogy.com, 2003:

Exhibit - per freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com, 2003:

Exhibit - per www.familysearch.org, 2003:

Exhibit - per www.familysearch.org, 2003: