Granduncle Mark's Genealogy Parlor
Florena Elizabeth (Sweeney) Vaught
born in 1893
in Pennsylvania
Reported by Florena's first-cousin twice-removed,
Mark Ellsworth Hickman, PhD
(Click
on photo to see larger photo!)
The very beautiful Florena was born in 1893
in Blair County, Pennsylvania.
Her biological parents were Emma Martin
(born 19 September 1873 in Pennsylvania) and a Mr. Sherman.
Mr. Sherman and Emma wanted to get married, but Mr. Sherman's father objected to the marriage. The elder
Mr. Sherman was an unusual man who hid in tobacco cans money that he earned from selling grain, even though
his wife discretely watched him hide the cans and later retrieved the money for herself. Although Mr. Sherman
was never able to retrieve the money for himself, he continued to use this method of hiding it.
So, Florena was a granddaughter of our
James Frederick Martin and Eliza Jane (Lowmiller) Plank Martin, and great-granddaughter
of John Martin from Ireland, and his wife Rachel.
It was socially stimatized to have a child out-of-wedlock in those days, so 20-year old Emma's married sister,
26-year old
Katherine "Kate" (Martin) Schoper,
and her husband, Willard Schoper, took in Florena as their daughter for a while. Kate told Emma,
"we'll be able to send Florena to college and give her everything she needs."
Emma, with no other viable options in those conservative
times, accepted Kate's offer. So, Florena was able to stay within the care of the Martin family.
This is a photo of young Florena with her Aunt Kate / foster mother.
Click on small photo to see larger photo!
Florena's biological mother, Emma Martin, later married George Sweeney, and had three children,
including a daughter named,
Mable Sweeney. Florena apparently knew that Emma was actually her biological mother, because I have learned
from Florena's grandson that Florena actually used the Sweeney surname at some point after Emma had married
George Sweeney.
Despite the socially-awkward circumstances of her birth, Florena was dearly-loved by her Martin
family, especially by her several aunts. One of her aunts,
Nannie (Martin) Routh, recalled how
she used to carry Florena for miles in their mountainous area so that Florena could have visits
at her grandparents' home, where Nannie still lived at the time. Nannie was only 16-years old when Florena was born,
so she had ample energy to tote her young niece over the rough terrain.
As is apparent in the photos above, Florena was quite beautiful as a child and as an adult.
Unlike many young women of her time, Florena attended college. During college she was thrown from
a horse and broke a hip. She was hospitalized for this injury. She was depressed that she
might not be able to return to school. Her physician, Dr. Vaught, brought his son, Kelly, to visit the
very pretty and charming young Florena, hoping to cheer her.
Walter Kelly Vaught was born 28 February 1885 in Lawrenceville County, Illinois.
Well, the rest is history. Florena and the physician's son, Walter Kelly Vaught, fell in love and
eventually married. Kelly and Florena were a financially prosperous family with four children. One of
their sons was a dentist, one was a physician. They attended the Free Methodist Church. Walter Kelly Vaught died
of heart disease on 05 June 1959 in Spring Arbor, Michigan.
Florena died at the age of 82, in 1975 at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan
Florena's High School Senior Photograph
Florena is 3rd from left, on middle row.
Florena was valedictorian of her Blairsville, Pennsylvania class.
Photograph made in about 1911.
Click on small photo to see large photo!
----- CREDIT: Randy Vaught (My third cousin, Randy is a grandson
of Florena Elizabeth Sweeney Vaught.)
Florena Elizabeth (Sweeney) Vaught is the pretty young woman sitting on the car's running board.
Standing beside Florena is Florena's birth mother, Emma (Martin) Sweeney.
Florena is holding her youngest son, Richard Kelly Vaught.
Florena's other son, Paul Martin Vaught, is standing beside Emma.
Click on small photo to see large photo!
----- CREDIT: Randy Vaught (My third cousin, Randy is a grandson
of Florena Elizabeth Sweeney Vaught.)
Standing, back row, from left to right ...
Dorothy Jean Vaught, Dr. Richard Kelly Vaught, Florena Elizabeth (Sweeney) Vaught and Kay (Katherine) Vaught
front row; Paul Martin Vaught and Dr. Walter Kelly Vaught.
Click on small photo to see large photo!
----- CREDIT: Randy Vaught (My third cousin, Randy is a grandson
of Florena Elizabeth Sweeney Vaught.)
Florena Elizabeth (Sweeney) Vaught's grandson tell us that
the bulk of Florena's male guidance during earlier years was from a Reverend A. D. Zahnizer,
a Bishop in the Free Methodist Church and a minister in Pittsburgh and Philipsburg, Pennsylvania.
Click on small photo to see large photo!
----- CREDIT: Randy Vaught (My third cousin, Randy is a grandson
of Florena Elizabeth Sweeney Vaught.)
Florena Elizabeth (Sweeney) Vaught's husband,
Walter Kelly Vaught,
is the boy sitting on the ground
holding a dog.
Standing are Walter Kelly Vaught's father,
Andrew Jackson Vaught, as well as Walter's mother and siblings.
Click on small photo to see large photo!
----- CREDIT: Randy Vaught (My third cousin, Randy is a grandson
of Florena Elizabeth Sweeney Vaught and this Walter Kelly Vaught.)
Walter Kelly Vaught in high school
Click on small photo of class
to see large photo!
----- CREDIT: Randy Vaught (My third cousin, Randy is a grandson
of Florena Elizabeth Sweeney Vaught and this Walter Kelly Vaught.)
Walter Kelly Vaught's Medical school Graduation Photo.
He's in the fourth row back, second from the right.
Click on small photo of class to see large photo!
----- CREDIT: Randy Vaught (My third cousin, Randy is a grandson
of Florena Elizabeth Sweeney Vaught and this Walter Kelly Vaught.)
p>
Walter Kelly Vaught as an athelete.
Click on small photo to see large photo!
----- CREDIT: Randy Vaught (My third cousin, Randy is a grandson
of Florena Elizabeth Sweeney Vaught and this Walter Kelly Vaught.)
Walter Kelly Vaught (left) as an athelete.
Click on small photo to see large photo!
----- CREDIT: Randy Vaught (My third cousin, Randy is a grandson
of Florena Elizabeth Sweeney Vaught and this Walter Kelly Vaught.)
Florena Elizabeth (Sweeney) Vaught
Click on small photo to see large photo!
----- CREDIT: Randy Vaught (My third cousin, Randy is a grandson
of Florena Elizabeth Sweeney Vaught.)
Dr. Walter Kelly Vaught
and
Florena Elizabeth (Sweeney) Vaught
Click on small photo to see large photo!
----- CREDIT: Randy Vaught (My third cousin, Randy is a grandson
of Florena Elizabeth Sweeney Vaught.)
Dr. Walter Kelly Vaught
and
Florena Elizabeth (Sweeney) Vaught
Click on small photo to see large photo!
----- CREDIT: Randy Vaught (My third cousin, Randy is a grandson
of Florena Elizabeth Sweeney Vaught.)
Dr. Walter Kelly Vaught
and
Florena Elizabeth (Sweeney) Vaught
Click on small photo to see large photo!
----- CREDIT: Randy Vaught (My third cousin, Randy is a grandson
of Florena Elizabeth Sweeney Vaught.)
SOURCES
- Many of these charming accounts, and the wonderful photographs,
were provided by Florena's first cousin, Elda Elizabeth
(Routh) Eddleman (My grandmother), who lived 1910-1999.
- Many of these remarkable photographs and family facts were kindly provided by Florena's
first cousin, James "Jim" Leroy Martin (my first-cousin twice-removed), who was born
in 1926 in California. ------ Thanks, Jim!
- Further information and most of these photographs were kindly provided by Florena's
grandson, Randy Vaught. (My third cousin) ------ Thanks, Randy!
Copyright 1996-2008, Mark Ellsworth Hickman, PhD
(Granduncle Mark)
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