Loretta Inman & Ancestors |
Click on a name to read more about the person, click on an arrow to follow that branch in the tree, or click for an Alphabetic List of all Names. |
 |
Loretta Laurence Inman was born August 19, 1873, to Charles Judson Inman, 22 and Julia Standley, 17, in Vigo County, Indiana. It seems she was named after Julia’s sister Loretta. When Loretta was just short of 8 years old, her mother Julia died on July 31, 1881. Her father Charles remarried in 1882 when she was a week short of her ninth birthday. When she was about 10 years old, probably in 1883, she went to work as a domestic for a single woman named Louisa Wallace, whose family had previously employed other servants. This is just about the time of the birth of her half sister Stella. Loretta continued to attend school through the 8th grade while she was working.
It seems that sometime prior to 1912, Loretta and the children moved to Carlisle joining John there, as the following newspaper reports indicate: Carlisle News on Friday, March 17, 1911 states, “John Bullock and wife were in Sullivan Saturday.” Sullivan Daily Times on Friday, February 2, 1912 “Mrs. George Ward and Mrs. John Bullock visited friends in Shelburn Tuesday.” Carlisle News for Friday, April 12, 1912 states, “Mrs. John Bullock and children, Mary and Walter, went to Shelburn Sunday afternoon to visit friends. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Cromwell, of Clinton, and Mrs. Elizabeth Cromwell, of Shelburn, returned to their homes Friday after a visit here with the family of John Bullock.” Just a few months later, it seems the entire family is now living in Shelburn as the following newspapers report: Sullivan Daily Times for Monday, August 12, 1912 states, “Mrs. John Bullock was a Carlisle visitor Monday.” Carlisle News for Friday, November 8, 1912 “. . . John T. Bullock, a former resident of Carlisle, but who now lives at Shelburn . . .” Carlisle News for Friday, July 4, 1913 states, “Mrs. John Bullock, of Shelburn, came Saturday to visit friends.” Something must have happened between John and Loretta, as The Sullivan Daily Times for Saturday, December 6, 1913, reports that “Lauretta Bullock of Shelburn has brought suit for divorce against John Bullock, alleging that he threatened to kill her. She states in the complaint that the defendant now resides in San Diego, Cal. She asks custody of seven children. J. W. Lindley represents the plaintiff.” We learn from the official divorce documents that John left the family in January of 1913 and “has absolutely failed and refused to render any support to the . . . family, consisting of eight children, and she has been compelled to perform labor for others to earn a support for her and her said children, two of whom are blind, . . . ” The seven youngest surviving children were living with Loretta at this time. Legal non resident notices were published throughout the month of December declaring that “John Bullock, is not a resident of the state of Indiana” along with the indent to divorce. The divorce was granted and announced in The Sullivan Union newspaper on Wednesday, March 25, 1914, as, “Louretta Bullock was granted a divorce from John Bullock, and was given custody of children.”
Loretta’s world was changing-John was gone and World War I began in the summer of 1914. Loretta began her three youngest children’s musical careers in 1916 putting them on Chautauqua Circuit, playing concerts and recitals. On Thursday, January 18, 1917, The Sullivan Democrat printed a list of payments made out to folks who worked for the County, for the year ending December 31, 1916. Loretta and her son Charles were both listed as jan, which is assumed means janitor. Loretta is listed seven times and made a total of $9.40. Chas. is listed six times, for a total payment of $61.30. There were other names with the same jan designation who made more money, so it would seem they were fill-in janitors. The United States entered the war on April 6, 1917, and more problems surfaced for Loretta. On Thursday, April 17, 1919, The Sullivan Democrat reported that “Elizabeth Robbins has filed a suit for foreclosure against Loretta Bullock, John D. and Rosella Hill through J. R. Brown.” Just over a month later on May 21, 1919, it reported, “Elizabeth Robbins was given judgment in the sum of $638.40 against Loretta Bullock, John D. Hill and Rosella Hill.” No additional information was given. The war ended on June 28, 1919 and just over six months later on January 5, 1920, the census shows Loretta, age 46 and widowed, living in Curry Township, Sullivan County Indiana. Living with her were: Alberta age 24; William age 19; and Walter age 12. At this time, Mary age 15 and ancestor James age 10, were in the Indiana School for the Blind in Indianapolis. Edison was married and living in Kentucky, Stewart was married and living in Detroit and Charles Samuel was said to have committed suicide. It is not known for certain that Loretta’s ex-husband John was dead or if she had any communication with him those last few years. Loretta remarried twice in Sullivan County, both ended in divorce. The first was Samuel Dawson Magruder on March 19, 1920. The Carlisle News on Friday, April 2, 1920, announced the wedding as follows; “Married at Sullivan. Mrs. Lauretta Bullock and Samuel Magruder were married last Friday at Sullivan. The bride is well know and highly respected, having lived in Shelburn all her life. Mr. and Mrs. Magruder were old friends having known each other since childhood.” Her new husband Sam had divorced his second wife Laura in the same month that he married Loretta. This marriage lasted only seven months, ending in divorce on October 31st. Six months later Sam remarried his second wife Laura, whom he divorced again and married another woman in 1924. Loretta’s last marriage was on November 24, 1921 to Ozias Gwinnup, a widower. They lived on Rural Route #1 in New Salem, Noble Township, Rush County, IN. (See map above for county location.) During this marriage on Friday, March 9, 1923, The Carlisle News published an article about Loretta’s daughter Mary winning first prize ($15) in a poetry contest about Mother. Loretta also entered the contest and won a lower prize of $2. Loretta’s son James remembered Ozias fondly, but on Saturday, Saturday, June 7, 1924, The Rushville Daily Republican reported, “The court this morning heard the evidence in the divorce suit of Ozias Gwinnup against Loretta Gwinnup, and the defendant defaulted. Judge Sparks granted the plaintiff a divorce upon payment of the cost.” Two days later on June 9th Ozias was married to another woman. Neither of these marriages produced any additional children for Loretta, but both of these men had children from previous marriages that Loretta helped raise. By 1926 she returned to using Bullock as her last name, lived in the capital city in Marion County, and never married again! In that year she and daughter Mary are listed in the Indianapolis City Directory as living at 716 N Adelaide St. The next year there is a Loretta M Bullock listed as householder living at 708 North Adelaide St in the Indianapolis City Directory, which probably is her. In 1928, the city directory has her listed as the householder, widow of John, living with James and Mary in an apartment at 510 North East St.
Loretta Laurence Inman Bullock died on August 1, 1951, and was cremated and the ashes placed in a copper container. Her son Walter paid for and made the arrangements, Walter's ashes are also in Glendale Forest Lawn, but are in the Iris Columbarium in The Great Mausoleum. With both her mother and brother gone, Marie returned to Indiana to care for her sick sister Mary in Indianapolis. Marie died there in May of 1966 and Mary died the following year. |
| ~< Back to Chart >~ |
Charles Judson Inman was born in July of 1851 in Howesville, Clay County, Indiana, to Davis Inman, about 30 and Nancy Poe, 31. (Today Howesville is an unincorporated town and is part of the Terre Haute Metropolitan Statistical Area.) Charles was 9 years old when the Civil War began and 13 when it ended. His brother John Brown Inman served and died in the war. Charles married Julia Standley on July 31, 1872, in Vigo County, Indiana. Loretta was born there on August 19, 1873 when Charles was 22. The US census for Lewis Township, Clay County, Indiana, dated June 11, 1880 shows (Charles) Judson 29, a farmer and Julia 23 with daughter Loretta 6. Julia died a year later on July 31, 1881.
After his second wife Sarah died, he married 18 year-old Samantha Alice Simmons on March 5, 1891 in Greene County, Indiana. They had four children together, but lost one in infancy. The surviving children were Zella E. born in February of 1892; Corra D. born in September of 1894; and Robert F. born in September of 1899. The 1900 US Census has Charles J age 46, Samantha age 27, their children including his daughter Stella living in Lewis township, Clay County, Indiana. After Samantha died he married Lavina E. Morrison on December 30, 1903 in Greene County, Indiana. There are no census records listing them together, but there are census records that could be hers. The 1910 US Census lists a Levina Inman, who was married eight years with one child, as a 56 year-old servant doing housework for the Barnes family in Jasonville, Greene County. The 1920 census lists Luvinia Inman, a 64 year-old housekeeper for the Palmer family in Hymera, Jackson Township in Sullivan County. If these are her records, it is possible that Charles had another child or she was simply raising Charles’ youngest child Robert. The only indication of Charles’ death is from his daughter Stella’s marriage applications. On her April 25, 1905 marriage application, her father was alive and living in Sullivan County. On her October 6, 1909 marriage application, he is listed as deceased. So it is reasonable to believe he died between those two dates. Unfortunately no records under his name support this, so it is not certain when and where Charles Judson Inman died. |
| ~<^>~ |
|
| ~< Back to Chart >~ |
Davis Inman was born around 1821 in Ohio. He was the third child of Jehu Inman about 33 and Lucy Fires about 35. When he was about 18 in Indiana in 1839, he married Nancy Poe who was about 19. They had the following children (the fist 3 are listed on the 1850 census): John Brown about 1840; Sarah Eudora June 9, 1850; ancestor Charles Judson July 1851; Rachel about 1853; and Nancy about 1859. The US census dated July 10, 1860 in Lewis Township, Clay County, Indiana shows Davis Inman 39, farmer; John B 19, farm laborer; Sarah E 11; ancestor Charles J 8; and Rachel 7 years old. The real estate Davis Inman owned was valued at $1,000 and his personal estate $400. Neither wife Nancy nor baby Nancy are listed. It may be that Nancy died in childbirth and the baby died not long after. About 1862, son John Brown Inman died in the Civil War. Davis Inman died about 1870 in Clay County Indiana. |
| ~<^>~ |
Nancy Poe was born March 11, 1820 in Lawrence County Indiana or, possibly in Kentucky. She was the first of ten children born to John Brown Poe 19 and Sarah B. Holladay who was about 16. Nancy is said to have been a relative of Edgar Allan Poe. Little else is known of her outside the marriage to Davis Inman (see above). Her last child was born in 1859. She does not appear on the 1860 census, so she may have died in childbirth or at another time prior to July 10, 1860 at about the age of 39. |
| ~<^>~ |
Ohio records show a Muskingum County marriage license was issued on Christmas day, December 25, 1850, between Thomas Standley and Sarena Richardson (mouse over image right). They were married the next day by Alpha Buker, Justice of the Peace in Monroe Township (mouse over image below right to enlarge in a new tab/window). Thomas was about 33 and Serene was 21.
Thomas Standley died on December 29, 1881 at age 63 in Indiana, most likely in Lewis Township, Clay County, where he was living in 1880. He is buried next to his wife in the Little Flock Cemetery in Shelburn, Sullivan County there. The inscription on his stone reads as follows, “Thomas T. Standley / Died / Dec 29, 1881 / Aged / 63 yr 5 m / 29 Days” (it could say 6 months). The Sullivan County, Indiana Cemetery Records Volume 1 states the stone reads “60y 5m 29d,” but it is clearly states 63 years on the stone. |
| ~<^>~ |
Because most of the 1890 census was destroyed by fire, we know very little of what happened to her after the death of her husband in 1881. Some time in this period, she moved from Lewis Township, Clay County to Shelburn, Curry Township in Sullivan County, Indiana. She probably moved there to be closer to her children. (Mouse over map right for a more detailed map.) On June 25, 1887, she is listed as a witness to her daughter Harriet Stanley’s marriage in Shelburn. On January 22, 1889, The Sullivan Democrat reported in their obituary section that “A young man of Shelburn named Clark Stanley, met with an accident a few days ago, which caused his death. . .” and included a detailed report of the accident and his death. He was Serene’s youngest son, aged 21. On June 1, 1900, she is listed on the 1900 census as a 70-year-old washwoman, living alone in Shelburn, having had nine children of whom six were still alive. In the next census dated April 27, 1910, she is widowed, living with her daughter Frances and family in Shelburn (Frances is married to John T. Scott with two sons).
It seems as if her daughter Francis, really cared for her because when Serene died the next year, she was not buried in the Poor House Cemetery. Frances filled out the death certificate and took charge of her burial. She was buried on July 8th, next to her husband in the Little Flock Cemetery in Shelburn. Her stone (mouse over image right) is inscribed as follows, “Louisa Serene wife of Thomas Standley Dec 18, 1829 ~ July 6, 1921.” She was 91 years old when she died of heart decease. Louisa Serene Richardson outlived at least five of her nine children—ancestor Julia died in 1881; George Washington, who probably died as a toddler; son Andrew Jackson, a coal miner, died prior to December 29, 1917, the date of his daughter’s marriage; Clark died accidentally running after a cow in 1889; and Harriet who died in 1911. It should be noted that also on the 1920 Poor House US Census and in the Record of Persons Admitted into the County Asylum is George Bullock, age 62, single. The records tell us he was admitted on December 22, 1919, from Graysville Turman Town Ship, the son of ancestors Martin Bullock and Susanna Mayfield, whose brother was Clifford Bullock of Linton, Ind. And that he died on March 7, 1920 Sunday 12 noon, and was buried there in an unmarked grave. George was John Thomas Bullock’s uncle. Louisa Serene was ancestor Loretta Inman’s grandmother. John Thomas and Loretta were husband and wife. |
| ~< Back to Chart >~ |
Shortly after Loretta turned 18, she married John Thomas Bullock on September 3, 1891, in Curryville, which is now a community on the north end of Shelburn, Indiana in Sullivan County. She is listed on the marriage license as a Domestic, living in Currysville. It seems that they continued to live in the house of Louisa Wallace. On both the 1900 and 1910 US censuses, Louisa Wallace, who was born in August of 1820, was living with John and Loretta’s family, listed as boarder and then foster mother. In February of 1906, Louisa obtained 4 lots in Currysville in a lawsuit against other members of her family. (See image left of those lots as they look today.) On May 4, 1911, Loretta bought these same 4 lots (#23-26) in Curryville from Louisa for “the sum of one dollar and love and affection and other good and valuable consideration.” In return, Loretta agreed to pay all indebtedness against the property, including two mortgages and taxes amounting to about $400. Louisa on December 15, 1914. The Sullivan Union newspaper stated “Miss Louisa Wallace died . . . at the home of Mrs. Loretta Bullock in Currysville. . . . She and Mrs. Loretta Bullock had lived together for 31 years.”
John and Loretta had ten known children (see 
During this time and for the next several years, Loretta took care of her children the best she could. In 1914, the local newspapers reported about a successful Valentine party that her daughter Bertie gave, “Young Lady Entertains Club and Friends” where “All departed at a late hour reporting a very enjoyable time.” They also reported that “Mrs. Loretta Bullock a seamstress from Shelburn is sewing for Mrs. Edsil Bosstic this week.” (Edsil was the son of Allie Mary Welch, John’s mother’s sister. John and Edsel were first cousins.) In the fall of that year, at “The second Saturday Fair of this season” Loretta took home the prize for “Best display crochet lace pattern.”
The Great Depression began when the stock Market crashed on October 29, 1929. Less than six months later, On April 14, 1930, the census shows Loretta L. Bullock, age 56 once again listed as widowed, living at 1602 Broadway in Indianapolis with daughter Alberta Coakley age 34, widowed, occupation restaurant counter girl; Mary L. age 25, machine operator for a garment company; Walter age 22; and James R. age 20, both listed as singers on radio. But Polk's 1930 Indianapolis City Directory has them all living at 2233 North New Jersey St. Because Jim is listed as a broadcaster and Walter an assistant advertising manager, it seems probable this was prior to the census. In the 1931 directory, they are all living at 2225 N Ala (Alabama) St. Loretta is again listed as the householder and widow of John. In 1932, she is living at 3910 King Place, a four bedroom house in the north side of Cincinnati, Ohio. Sons Walter and Jim, with his wife Zelda, are also at that address. It appears Loretta followed her sons to Cincinnati, where they worked.
Some time between 1934 and 1935 she moved to Los Angeles County, California, to be closer to her son Walter, who was a successful Hollywood screen and songwriter. It is said he treated her like a queen and she adored him and was proud of his achievements. Loretta worked as a seamstress for a woman named Maggie, who wrote a history of the Bullock family, which has since been lost. Maggie became close friends with Loretta's daughter Alberta, who now goes by the name Marie. (Pictured above left is Alberta/Marie with Maggie on right.) There is a 1936 California voter registrations record for Mrs. Loretta Bullock living in LA County at 1251 N. Detroit St. On the 1940 US Census she is listed as Loretta Gwinnup, living with widowed daughter Marie Stull and son Walter Bullock (listed as lyrics and script writer) in the home she owns at 129 Mabery Road in LA. She states that she was living in LA on April 1, 1935, but at a different address. The 1940 Santa Monica, California, City Directory has them at the same address listing Loretta as the householder and widow of J.T. Another voter record for 1948 lists Loretta L. Bullock on 1958 Holly Drive, where she is living with daughter Miss Serena Marie (Walter called his sister Serena) and son Walter; and another one at the same address in 1950 without her children; Marie and her brother Walter are now living at another address. 
but he never picked up her ashes. It is said that he was very distraught by his mother’s death and he committed suicide two days before her birthday in 1953. Her ashes remained in the Glendale Forest Lawn Utility Columbarium until 2011, when her grandson, James’ son, whom she never knew, discovered them and had them moved to the Columbarium of Tenderness in the same cemetery. 
Julia Standley was born January 3, 1856, in Indiana. She was the third child of Thomas Standley, 38 and Louisa Serene Richardson, 26. She was 5 years old when the Civil War began and 9 when it ended. The US census in Prairie Creek Township, Vigo County, Indiana, dated June 11, 1860, shows Thomas Standly 42, a carpenter; Louisa 30; Lucinda 8; Loretta 6; Julia 4; and Francis 2. By the next census dated July 9, 1870, they are all living in Honey Creek Township, Vigo County with a post office in Terre Haute, Indiana. Julia Stanley is listed as 14 years old and without occupation. Two years later Julia Stanley married Charles Inman on July 31, 1872, in Vigo County (mouse over image on right). Ancestor Loretta was born on August 19, 1873, in Vigo County when Julia was 17. See Charles above for 1880 census. Julia Stanley Inman died on July 31, 1881 at age 25.
Thomas T. Standley was born on May 31, or July 1, 1818, in what is now West Virginia. His ancestry is difficult to pin down because of two main factors: the spelling of his last name and his place of birth are uncertain-see census info below for details. (Thomas may be a descendent of Pilgrim John Stanley, who died onboard the ship The Planter coming to America. His son John Jr. was then raised by his brother Thomas. The name Thomas filters down several generations in Connecticut. Then one Thomas, who served in the Revolution, moved his family to Ohio in 1787. One of his sons may be our Thomas’ father.)
Sometime between August of 1852, and August of 1853, they moved to Indiana. Serene’s family had moved there in 1851. The US census dated June 11, 1860, finds Thomas and family in Prairie Creek, Vigo County, Indiana. Thomas Standly 42 is a carpenter, listed as born in Virginia and Louisa is 30. All their children except the first were born in Indiana – Lucinda 8 born in Ohio; Loretta 6; ancestor Julia 4; and Frances 2. The next census is dated July 9, 1870 in Honey Creek Township, Vigo County Indiana. It shows Thomas Stanley 51 Day Laborer, born in Ohio, Serena 39 Keeping house, Lucinda 18; Loretta 16; ancestor Julia 14; Frances 11; Andrew 8; Lidda 4; and Clark 3. In the Stanly family's Lewis, Clay County, IN 1880 census, Harriett is an addition born on August 27, 1871. On this census Thomas is listed as being a farmer, born in West Virginia. West Virginia had separated from Virginia during the Civil War to become its own state. There were several Thomas’ with the surname of one of the variations of Stanleys living in the same area of Sullivan County. There are many land records in the town of Merom in Sullivan, unfortunately none of the records mentions a wife’s name, so more details on him are uncertain. 
Louisa Serene Richardson was born on December 18, 1829, in Otsego, Muskingum, Ohio. She was the first child of at least ten children born to David Austin Richardson, 26 and Lucinda Sprague, 19. Many of her records list her first name as Sarena or Serene as seen above in her marriage certificate, which is what she called herself. The US census dated November 2, 1850 shows her family in Monroe Township, District 215, Muskingum County, Ohio. Along with Serene there are four sisters and four brothers on this census (see her father 
The Record of Persons Admitted into the County Asylum lists that on May 20, 1917, 87 year old Serena Stanley was admitted there by her daughter Mrs. John T. Scott. At that time, the home had 37 Inmates, 23 male and 14 female. On page 123 of the Annual Report of the Board of State Charities of Indiana for 1918/19-1919/20 describes these asylums as follows: “The population of all poor asylums is composed largely of the sick, feeble, crippled and the mental defectives. These need constant care and supervision.” Serene may have been placed in here because she was losing her faculties in her old age and her daughter could no longer help her. 
She lived there until July 4, 1918, when her daughter, Francis, took her home to live in Shelburn with her again. The next year on May 2, 1919, she was re-admitted to the asylum. At that time, there were only 32 patients living there, 10 women and 22 men. She lived at the County Home another few years as the US census dated January 6, 1920, shows “Serena Stanley,” an “inmate” in the "Sullivan County Poor House" in Hamilton in that county. (Mouse over image right above for more info.)