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Modjiska Pauline RICHISON

Modjiska Pauline RICHISON

Female 1907 - 1989  (81 years)

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  • Name Modjiska Pauline RICHISON  [1, 2] 
    Birth 25 Sep 1907  Portland, Jay, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4] 
    • Birth place is based upon the residence of the parents at the time of the event.
    Birth certificate - Richison    		 Birth certificate - Richison
    Modjeska Pauline Richison, 1907
    Gender Female 
    Disproven birth date 27 Sep 1907  , Jay, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    in letter from Frank Vaughn Richison 
    • Birth certificate says 25 Sep 1907.
    Census 21 Apr 1910  Portland, Jay, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Dallis R. Richison household
     
    • Richison, Modjeska P., daughter, female, white, age 2, born Indiana.
    1910 U.S. Census - Richison    		 1910 U.S. Census - Richison
    Indiana. Jay Co. - Dallis R. Richison
    Census 7 Jan 1920  Portland, Jay, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    Dals R. Richmo/Richison household
     
    • Richison, Pauline, daughter, female, white, age 12, single, attends school, able to read & write, born Indiana, father born Indiana, mother born Indiana, speaks English
    1920 US Census - Richison     		1920 US Census - Richison
    Indiana. Jay Co. -Dale R. Richison
    Occupation 18 May 1926  Muncie, Delaware, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    Marcellist at the time of her marriage to Thornburg 
    Census 24 Apr 1930  Center Twp., Delaware, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    Milburn T. Thornburg household 
    • Thornburg, Pauline, wife, female, wihte, age 22, married at age 18, able to read and write, born Indiana, father born Indiana, mother born Indiana, speaks English
    1930 U.S. Census - Richison    		 1930 U.S. Census - Richison
    Indiana. Delaware co. - Milburn T. Thornburg
    Census 12 Apr 1940  Noble Twp., Wabash, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Paul E. Armstrong HOH 
    • Armstrong, Pauline, wife, female, white, 32, married, college 2 years, b. Indiana, lived rural in 1935, [everything else, blank].
    Physical Description Very tiny red-headed worman who had to buy her clo  [9] 
    Resided 13 Mar 1947  Grants Pass, Josephine, Oregon, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [10] 
    at death of her father, Dallas Ray Richison 
    Resided 31 Jul 1949  Atwater, Merced, California, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [11] 
    at the death of her brother, Ophir Orlo Richison

     
    Funeral 3 Aug 1949  Winchester, Randolph, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [12] 
    attended the funeral of her brother, Ophir Orlo richison 
    Residence 15 Jan 1969  Livingston, Merced, California, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [13] 
    at death of her brother, Herbert Meredith Richison 
    Resided 8 Nov 1973  Livingston, Merced, California, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [14] 
    at death of her mother, Olive Alexander 
    Death 21 Mar 1989  Seattle, King, Washington, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [15, 16] 
    Death certificate - Richison    		 Death certificate - Richison
    Modjeska Pauline (Richison) Rohr, 1989
    Burial 28 Mar 1989  Seattle, King, Washington, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [17] 
    Person ID I23  richison
    Last Modified 4 Mar 2013 

    Father Dallas Ray RICHISON,   b. 4 Aug 1884, Portland, Jay, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 13 Mar 1947, Winchester, Randolph, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 62 years) 
    Relationship Birth 
    Mother Olive ALEXANDER,   b. 10 Jun 1887, , Jay, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 29 Oct 1973, Merced, Merced, California, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 86 years) 
    Relationship Birth 
    Family ID F3  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Milburn Theodore THORNBURG,   b. 9 Nov 1901, , Randolph, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 4 Jan 1987, Muncie, Delaware, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 85 years) 
    Marriage 18 May 1926  , Delaware, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [18, 19] 
    Marriage license & return - Richison    		 Marriage license & return - Richison
    Thornburg-Richison marriage, 1926
    Marriage License 18 May 1926  , Delaware, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [18, 20] 
    Divorce Between 1930-1940  prob. , Delaware, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • 24 Apr 1930, Pauline was listed in the census as the wife of Thornburg. By 12 Apr 1940 she is listed as the wife of Paul E. Armstrong, living in Noble Twp., Wabash Co., Indiana.
    Family ID F35  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 29 Dec 2012 

    Family 2 Paul Earl ARMSTRONG, of Wabash, IN,   b. c.1898, , , Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Marriage 20 Jul 1939  , Wabash Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [21] 
    Marriage license and return - Richison     		Marriage license and return - Richison
    Paul Armstrong & Pauline Thornberg, 1939
    Family ID F36  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 28 Jan 2015 

    Family 3 Elwood John THOMPSON, of Grants Pass, OR,   b. 29 Aug 1915, Sisson, Siskiyou, California Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 10 Jun 1952, Near Tehjsyu-Sensen, Korea Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 36 years) 
    Marriage Bef Aug 1949 
    Photos
    Elwood and Modjiska Pauline (Richison) Thompson, c.1950    		Elwood and Modjiska Pauline (Richison) Thompson, c.1950
    Family ID F37  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 16 Oct 2010 

    Family 4 James JACKSON, of Atwater, CA 
    Marriage Aft 1952 
    Family ID F38  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 16 Oct 2010 

    Family 5 William CLEARY, of Livingston, CA 
    Marriage 1963  prob. , Merced, Califoria, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [22] 
    Divorce May 1969  , Merced, California, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [22] 
    Family ID F39  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 29 Dec 2012 

    Family 6 Stankey ROHR, of Seattle, WA 
    Marriage Aft 1952 
    Family ID F40  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 16 Oct 2010 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 25 Sep 1907 - Portland, Jay, Indiana, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDisproven birth date - in letter from Frank Vaughn Richison - 27 Sep 1907 - , Jay, Indiana, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - Dallis R. Richison household - 21 Apr 1910 - Portland, Jay, Indiana, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - Dals R. Richmo/Richison household - 7 Jan 1920 - Portland, Jay, Indiana, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Marcellist at the time of her marriage to Thornburg - 18 May 1926 - Muncie, Delaware, Indiana, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 18 May 1926 - , Delaware, Indiana, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage License - 18 May 1926 - , Delaware, Indiana, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResided - at death of her father, Dallas Ray Richison - 13 Mar 1947 - Grants Pass, Josephine, Oregon, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResided - at the death of her brother, Ophir Orlo Richison - 31 Jul 1949 - Atwater, Merced, California, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsFuneral - attended the funeral of her brother, Ophir Orlo richison - 3 Aug 1949 - Winchester, Randolph, Indiana, USA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Photos
    Modjiska Pauline (Richison) Thompson    		Modjiska Pauline (Richison) Thompson
    Modjiska Pauline Richison and M. Bradford Fields, c.1967
    (At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.)
    Wava Margaret, Irma Frances, Reba C. and Modjiska Pauline Richison, late 1920's     		Wava Margaret, Irma Frances, Reba C. and Modjiska Pauline Richison, late 1920's

    Documents
    1910 US Census - Dallas Ray Richison household    		1910 US Census - Dallas Ray Richison household
    1910 US Census - Dallas Ray Richison household    		1910 US Census - Dallas Ray Richison household

  • Notes 
    • RICHISON - Correspondence: 14
      Pauline was married either five or six times. There was some doubt that she actually ever married husband number four, James Jackson by her brother, Frank. Frank also seemed to remember being told that Pauline miscarried one child.

      Her first husband, Ted Thornberg worked at Kistleman's Wire Mill in Muncie for many years and was reputed to have bootlegged booze during prohibition while married to Pauline. She apparently was unhappy about it according to her brother Frank.

      Frank remembered that Pauline had some interest in genealogy and mentioned surnames of Ayres, Priests, Websters, Strausbergs, and Princes.
      ------------------------------------------------------------
      RICHISON - Correspondence:16 [from a letter from Frank Vaughn Richison in 1989]
      My sister, even though having been married five times, and possibly six times, left no children. All of her former husbands are deceased, insofar as I know. . .

      For the record, my sister's name was Modjeska Pauline Richison, Thornberg, Armstrong, Thompson, Jackson, Clearly, Rohrs. The only one I question is Jackson because I do not believe that she was married to him. Within the family, she was nicknamed "Polly", others outside the family called her "Paula", which is the appellation applied to her in the Seattle area. . .
      ------------------------------------------------------------
      RICHISON - Correspondence: 19 [in a letter from Frank Vaughn Richison, Charles's brother.]
      Since Charles had no children, and neither did my sister Pauline . . . My sister, Pauline died on March 27, 1989, my brother, Meredith died in 1958, I do not know what month. My brother Charles died July 27, 1989 . . . Incidentally, all five of us were born in Jay County, none in Randolph County . . .I almost forgot to mention that Ted Thornberg married my sister in 1926. Elwood Thompson married her in the late fourties. He was in the air force and was a navigator on plane over Korea and was shot down and his body was never recovered.
      ------------------------------------------------------------
    • By around 1946-47, when Joyce & Robert Eugene, two of Meredith's children, were signed over for adoption, Polly had married a Catholic. It's unclear which husband this was but according to Joyce, Polly was willing to take Joyce but Olive would not hear of it because Polly had married a Catholic. This could have been her marriage to Elwood Thompson who was killed in the Korean War.

  • Sources 
    1. [S1901] Marriage, 22 Dec 2010.
      "Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959," database, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org: accessed 22 Dec 2010), marriage of Milburn Theodore Thornburg, 18 May 1926, Delaware County; citing FHL microfilm 2,069,413.

    2. [S1901] Marriage, 13 Sep 2012.
      Delaware County, Indiana Marriage Records, bk.35:278, Thornburg-Richison, 1926; Carnegie Library (Muncie, IN) microfilm, Delaware County, Marriage Records, v.34-35, 1924-1926.

    3. [S1857] Births, 29 Dec 2012.
      Jay County, Indiana, photocopy of certified birth certificate, book H-13:15, Modjiska Pauline Richison, 1907; Jay County Department of Health, Portland.

    4. [S390] Courtney, Elias and Mary (Pavy), 13 Oct 1988.
      Richison, Joyce Ann, comp. "The Genealogy of Elias and Mary Pavy Courtney." Vertical files, donated by Jeanice Parker Isaacson, Delaware County Historical Society, Muncie, Indiana.

    5. [S1878] Correspondence, 9 Apr 2008.
      Frank Vaughn Richison, Santa Ana, California, to Shirley Richison Fields, letter, 9 May 1989, giving birth dates of his siblings and requesting Fields to obtain certified copies to aid in the settlement of his sister's estate. Privately held by Fields, Avon, Indiana.

    6. [S45] 1910 U.S. Census, 26 Feb 2008.
      1910 U. S. census, Jay County, Indiana, population schedule, Wayne Township, city of Portland Ward 2, enumeration district (ED) 83, sheet 9A (penned), dwelling 213, family 223, Dallis R. Richison; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 26 February 2008); NARA microfilm T624:358.

    7. [S238] 1920 U.S. Census, 6 Feb 2004.
      1920 U. S. census, Jay County, Indiana, population schedule, city of Portland Ward 2, sheet 3B (penned), enumeration district (ED) 81, dwelling 74, family 74, Dals R. Richison; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 February 2004); NARA microfilm T625:440.

    8. [S1831] 1930 U.S. Census, 20 Mar 2011.
      1930 U.S. census, Delaware County, Indiana, population schedule, Center Township, city of Muncie, enumeration district (ED) 20, sheets 33B & 34A, dwelling 748-49, family 801-2, Milburn T. Thornburg; digital image, Ancestry.com, (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 April 2008); NARA microfilm T626:583.

      Also living with them:
      3) Graham, Bert, lodger, male, white, age 50 divorced, married at age 24, able to read and write, born Ohio, father born Ohio, mother born Ohio, speaks English, painter at glass factory, miliary service, phil?

      4) Gains, Earl, lodger, male, white, age 40, single, able to read and write, born Kentucky, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucy, speaks English, laborer at glass factory, military service, WW

      5) Hillyard, Warren, lodger, male, white, age 33, divorced, married at age 18, able to read and write, born Indiana, father born Ohio, mother born Indiana, speaks English, laborer at Bridge Works, no military service

      A notation on the second page in the margin says "above restaurant" and on the first page it appears to say "12th and Burlington." There has been a restaurant at that location in Muncie for many years. When we moved to Muncie in the 50s it was called the Pig Stand but changed to something else later on. Pauline's niece, Betty Jean Richison, worked there as a waitress at one time.


    9. [S731] Personal Knowledge, 29 Dec 2012.
      Personal knowledge of Shirley Richison Fields, Pauline's niece who remembers going shopping with Pauline in Muncie, Indiana when Fields was a teenager.

    10. [S1854] Obituary, 29 Dec 2012.
      "Dallas Richison Dies at Randolph County Hospital," obituary, The Winchester (Indiana) Journal-Herald, 13 Mar 1947, front page.

    11. [S1854] Obituary, 29 Dec 2012.
      "Winchester Painter County's Fifth Automobile Accident Fatality," Orlo O. Richison obituary, The Winchester (Indiana) News, 1 August 1949, page 1.

    12. [S1859] Newspaper article, 26 May 2017.
      "Attend Richison Rites In Winchester," an undated clipping, ca. August 1949, from unidentified newspaper, found in Alexander Scrapbook. Held and transcribed by Shirley Richison Fields, Indianapolis, 2017.

    13. [S1854] Obituary, 29 Dec 2012.
      "Herbert Richison," obituary, undated newspaper clipping privately held by Shirley Richison Fields, Avon, Indiana. Based on two other obituaries on the same page, it is probably from a paper in Winchester, Union City or Muncie, Indiana, and was published with a few day of 15 January 1969 when Herbert died.

    14. [s1854] Obituary, 29 Dec 2012.
      "Deaths and Funerals: Olive Hodge," obituary, The Muncie (Indiana) Star, 8 November 1973.

    15. [S384] Richison Corre - Frank Vaughn Richison, (to Shirley Fields,), 3 May 1993, RICHISON - Correspondence: 13.
      "CONGRATULATIONS ! ! SHIRLEY ! ! " April 29, 1993

      Dear Shirley:

      My heartiest congratulations upon your graduation. I have purposely held back in writing to you, because I am fully aware of the time and concentration necessary in order to achieve and attain a specific goal which one sets for ones-self, in reaching that goal. Better late than never. I attempted to resume classes in 1958-59, but had to cease becaue of the damands made on me because of my job and family concerns.
      I was very saddened by your mother's death, but we all have to go when the time comes.
      T here is nothing that can be done about that.
      Your Aunt and I are virtually walking drug-stores with the various medications we have to take. Your Aunt has breathing problems, and I a pulse rate which tends go haywire ever so ofte, and a prolapsed disc in my lower lumbar spine. These conditions do hamper, to some degree, our mobility. After all I am 72, and she is 75. We will be married 47 years on June 30th. As you can readily see, I married an older woman. ( Just kidding).
      Since my sister, Pauline, died in March 1990, and my brother, Charles in July, 1990, I am the last my family. Your Aunt calls me " The Last of the Mohicans ".
      As I promised in an earlier letter, I am enclosing a picture that I have every reason to believe is my father and mother's wedding picture. The other one is of my father and grandfather, a smaller copy of the one that I had sent you previously. I have decided that both of these were taken about 1906-1907.
      I am also sending to you a clipping from the Los Angeles Times, regarding dire things to happen on May 8, 1993. Another KOOK coming out of the woodwork.
      We have some Jehovah Witnesses who used to be not allowed to go door to door in our complex, but are now, due to something to do with a constitutional amendment that allows them religious freedom. Nothing is said about our right to not to be bothered by them. I fixed them, by putting a sign in our front door which says; WHATEVER YOU WANT ! !, KEEP ON TRUCKIN' WE ARE BORN-AGAIN ATHEISTS.
      Today is May first. I had to go to the supermarket, bank, drugstore etc. yesterday, I will attempt to finish my letter to you this time., after all I have only seven more days until DOOM'S DAY according to the fruitcake. I'll still take earthquakes, before I'd take chances of surviving a hurrican, cyclone etc. We"ll bid the fruitcake farewell if he'll go to Wyoming, Or maybe he'll go join the WACA WACKO in Texas. And good riddance too. Hopefully perhaps we could get him into Saddam Hussein's Baghdad compound. That'll fix him for spouting all that nonsense for once and for all time.
      Both of the boys are fine and working. My oldest granddaughter is graduating fro high school next month. Amy will be eighteen in July. I do no know what her plans are for the future.
      QUEEN MOLLY of the HOUSE OF RICHISON is still reigning but I do have to admit she is a tyrant and very very demanding. How she gets by with it I'l never know. She rules us with an iron hand.
      We live on a day basis and not much excitement to shake us up.
      I will close now perhaps we will have something to report later.

      Sincerely
      Your Uncle Frank and family


      [The photos are not filed with the letter and clipping.]

      [NOTE: Frank gives the year of 1990 for the death of his sister Pauline and his brother Charles but the other information I have says both died in 1989, not 1990. I'm thinking Frank was coming up with the dates from memory rather than looking them up as he was writing this letter.]

    16. [S1869] Deaths, 1 Jan 1990.
      King County, Washington, photocopy of death certificate, local file 2709, state file 146 9 07949, Mojeska Pauline Rohr, 1989; State of Washing Department of Social and Health Services, Division of Health, Seattle. Certified copy issued 11 Jul 1989. Photocopy provided by Frank Vaughn Richison privately held by Shirley Richison Fields, Avon, Indiana.

    17. [S1869] Deaths, 1 Jan 1990.
      King County, Washington, photocopy of death certificate, local file 2709, state file 146 0 07949, Mojeska Pauline Rohr, 1989; State of Washing Department of Social and Health Services, Division of Health, Seattle. Certified copy issued 11 Jul 1989. Photocopy provided by Frank Vaughn Richison privately held by Shirley Richison Fields, Avon, Indiana.

    18. [S1901] Marriage, 22 Dec 2010 (Reliability: 2).
      "Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959," database, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org: accessed 22 Dec 2010), marriage of Milburn Theodore Thornburg, 18 May 1926, Delaware County; citing FHL microfilm 2,069,413.

    19. [S1901] Marriage, 13 Sep 2012.
      Delaware County, Indiana Marriage Records, bk.35: 278, Thornburg-Richison, 1926; Carnegie Library (Muncie, IN) microfilm, Delaware County, Marriage Records, v.34-35, 1924-1926.

    20. [S1901] Marriage, 13 Sep 2012 (Reliability: 3).
      Delaware County, Indiana Marriage Records, bk.35:278, Thornburg-Richison, 1926; Carnegie Library (Muncie, IN) microfilm, Delaware County, Marriage Records, v.34-35, 1924-1926.

    21. [S1901] Marriage, 23 Jan 2015.
      "Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959," index and images, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 23 January 2015); Armstrong-Thornburg marriage, 20 July 1939, Wabash County, bk. 20: 353; citing FHL microfilm 2,240,565.
      Thornberg, Pauline To Paul Armstrong

      Book 20 Page 353

      July 20, 1939

    22. [S1910] Divorce, 29 Dec 2012.
      "California, Divorce Index, 1966-1984," digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 26 December 2012); case no. 040059, Cleary-Richison, 1969; Center for Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento.
      Her name indexed as Richism.


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