Cleaning Up My Database: Lovell and Alvina (Lesperance) PEMBERTON

Since I am going family by family cleaning up source citations in my database, I figured I would share some of the sources that I have for the current family I am working. I am working on cleaning up the source citations for the family of my great-great-grandparents, Lovell and Alvina (Lesperance) Pemberton.

Lovell Hugh Pemberton was born 14 Jan 1878 in Almont, Lapeer, Michigan, to John C. Pemberton and Mary Ann Coombs. The funny thing about Lovell is that his birth certificate says he was born 14 Jan 1878, but his father's Civil War pension file and his own WWI draft registration card, death record, and obituary all give his birthday as either 17 Apr 1878 or 17 Apr 1879. I have yet to figure the mystery out. Lovell died 23 Mar 1952 in Lexington, Sanilac, Michigan, and is buried in St. Denis Catholic Cemetery in Lexington.

Alvina Mary Lesperance was born 27 Nov 1881 in Anchorville, St. Clair, Michigan, to Charles Lesperance and Christine Goslin. She died 16 Jun 1961 in Lexington, Sanilac, Michigan, and is buried with Lovell.

Lovell and Alvina married 10 Nov 1902 in Anchorville, St. Clair, Michigan, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. They had 13 children, only 6 of whom survived to adulthood.

When I clean up source citations on a family, I usually start with the children first. With Lovell and Alvina, I started with their seven children who died in childhood first, since they had the least amount of sources. Now I am working on the other children. Below are the sources I have for their children:

Gilbert Lowell PEMBERTON

b. 8 May 1903 in Ontario or Michigan
d. 21 Jun 1913 in Mount Clemens, Macomb, Michigan
Sources: 

• 1910 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at 208 Gratiot Ave. in Mt. Clemens, Macomb, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1913 state death certificate from "Deaths, 1897-1920" at SeekingMichigan.org
• 1913 death announcement in Mount Clemens Monitor obtained from a lookup volunteer at Mt. Clemens Public Library

Nellie Mary PEMBERTON

b. 25 Oct 1905 in Chesterfield, Macomb, Michigan
m. 9 Jun 1925 in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan to Darcy Merle VAN BUSKIRK
d. 18 Jan 1967 in Torrance, Los Angeles, California
Sources: 

• 1910 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at 208 Gratiot Ave. in Mt. Clemens, Macomb, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1920 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at 700 N. Vine St. in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1925 marriage register entry transcribed at St. Clair County Courthouse in summer 2007
• 1930 census with her husband and young daughter at Hathway Street in East China Township, St. Clair, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• Port Huron City Directory obtained from St. Clair County Public Library digital collection
• 1930: 1016-14th St.
• 1936-37, 1938-39: 1814-17th St.
• 1950 mentioned in her brother John's obituary as residing in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1952 mentioned in her father's obituary as residing in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1961 mentioned in her mother's obituary as residing in Port Huron, St Clair, Michigan
• 1961 mentioned in her sister Madeline's obituary as residing in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1967 death certificate obtained by mail from Los Angeles County Recorder's office
• 1967 obituary from Port Huron Times-Herald obtained from St. Clair County Public Library in summer 2007
• Letter from Los Angeles Archdiocese giving exact burial location in All Souls Cemetery in Long Beach. Asked a volunteer from FindAGrave to take a pic, but there was no headstone.

John Vital PEMBERTON (my great-grandfather)
b. 19 Feb 1908 in Mount Clemens, Macomb, Michigan
m. 7 Aug 1927 in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan to Mabel Ellen CRYSLER
d. 22 Nov 1950 in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, Michigan

Sources: 

• 1908 birth certificate obtained by mail from Michigan Department of Community Health
• 1908 birth register entry from Macomb County Clerk FHL microfilm #979569
• 1910 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at 208 Gratiot Ave. in Mt. Clemens, Macomb, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1920 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at 700 N. Vine St. in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1925 witnessed marriage of sister Nellie and her husband, Darcy  
• 1927 marriage certificate obtained by mail from Sanilac County Clerk (he married in St. Clair County but obtained the license in neighboring Sanilac County)
• 1930 census with his wife and two young children at 1650 McPherson St. in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• Port Huron City Directory obtained from St. Clair County Public Library digital collection
• 1930: 1650 McPherson St.
• 1933-34: 622-11th St.
• 1936-37, 1938-39: 729-12th St.
• 1950 death certificate obtained by mail from Michigan Department of Community Health
• 1950 obituary from Port Huron Times-Herald obtained from St. Clair County Public Library in summer 2007
• Photograph of gravestone at Elk Township Cemetery in Peck, Sanilac, Michigan, taken summer 2007

Charlotte Agnus PEMBERTON
b. 2 May 1910 in Mount Clemens, Macomb, Michigan
d. 25 Sep 1910 in Mount Clemens, Macomb, Michigan
Sources:

• 1910 birth register entry from Macomb County Clerk FHL microfilm #979569
• 1910 state death certificate from "Deaths, 1897-1920" at SeekingMichigan.org

Madeline Marion PEMBERTON

b. 18 Oct 1911 in Mount Clemens, Macomb, Michigan
m. 21 Oct 1933 in Croswell, Sanilac, Michigan to Leo Clayton CARNAHAN
d. 18 Nov 1961 in Torrance, Los Angeles, California
Sources:

• 1911 birth register entry from Macomb County Clerk FHL microfilm #979569
• 1920 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at 700 N. Vine St. in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1925 witnessed marriage of sister Nellie and her husband, Darcy Merle VAN BUSKIRK
• 1930 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at Ditty Road in Kimball Township, St. Clair, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1930 Port Huron City Directory: 17 Rural St. (lived with her parents)
• 1933 marriage register entry transcribed at St. Clair County Courthouse in summer 2007 (she married in Sanilac County but obtained a license in neighboring St. Clair County)
• Port Huron City Directory obtained from St. Clair County Public Library digital collection
• 1936-37: 1131 Pearl St.
• 1938-39: 1103 Miller St.
• 1950 mentioned in her brother John's obituary as residing in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1952 mentioned in her father's obituary as residing in Lakeport, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1952 newspaper article about the family home catching fire and burning to the ground in Lakeport, St. Clair, Michigan (two children died)
• 1961 mentioned in her mother's obituary as residing in Torrance, Los Angeles, California
• 1961 death certificate obtained by mail from Los Angeles County Recorder's office
• 1961 obituary from Port Huron Times-Herald obtained from St. Clair County Public Library in summer 2007

Myrtie Elva PEMBERTON

b. 23 May 1914 in Mount Clemens, Macomb, Michigan
d. 15 Sep 1914 in Mount Clemens, Macomb, Michigan
Sources:

• 1914 birth register entry from Macomb County Clerk FHL microfilm #979569
• 1914 state death certificate from "Deaths, 1897-1920" at SeekingMichigan.org

Lovell Henry PEMBERTON

b. 4 Jul 1915 in Mount Clemens, Macomb, Michigan
m. 10 Nov 1934 in Croswell, Sanilac, Michigan to Vera Delores BARNES
d. 22 Aug 1972 in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
Sources:

• 1915 birth register entry from Macomb County Clerk FHL microfilm #979569
• 1920 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at 700 N. Vine St. in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1930 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at Ditty Road in Kimball Township, St. Clair, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1934 marriage register entry transcribed at St. Clair County Courthouse in summer 2007 (he married in Sanilac County but obtained a license in neighboring St. Clair County)
• 1936-37 Port Huron City Directory: 1814 1/2-17th St. (next door to sister Nellie)
• 1950 mentioned in brother John's obituary as residing in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1952 mentioned in father's obituary as residing in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan 
• 1961 mentioned in mother and sister Madeline's obituaries as living in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1972 death register entry transcribed at St. Clair County Courthouse in summer 2007
• 1972 obituary from The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan) obtained from St. Clair County Public Library in summer 2007
• Photograph of gravestone taken by a FindAGrave volunteer at St. Denis Catholic Cemetery in Lexington, Sanilac, Michigan

Eva Edna PEMBERTON

b. 17 Jul 1916 in Mount Clemens, Macomb, Michigan
m. 26 Oct 1938 in Croswell, Sanilac, Michigan to Truman Elnathan ROWLEY
d. 24 Jun 2001 in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
Sources:

• 1916 birth register entry from Macomb County Clerk FHL microfilm #979569
• 1920 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at 700 N. Vine St. in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1930 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at Ditty Road in Kimball Township, St. Clair, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1933 witnessed marriage of sister Madeline and her husband, Leo Clayton CARNAHAN
• 1934 witnessed marriage of brother Lovell and his wife, Vera Delores BARNES
• 1938 witnessed marriage of sister Alvina and her husband, Daniel Robert BEEDON
• 1938 marriage certificate obtained by mail from Sanilac County Clerk
• 1950 mentioned in brother John's obituary as residing in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1952 mentioned her father's obituary as residing in Croswell, Sanilac, Michigan
• 1961 mentioned in mother and sister Madeline's obituaries as residing in Croswell, Sanilac, Michigan
• 1967 mentioned in sister Nellie's obituary as residing in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1972 mentioned in brother Lovell's obituary as residing in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1997 mentioned in sister Alvina's obituary as residing in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
• 2001 death certificate obtained by mail from St. Clair County Clerk
• 2001 obituary from The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan) obtained from St. Clair County Public Library in summer 2007
• Photograph of gravestone taken by FindAGrave volunteer at St. Denis Catholic Cemetery in Lexington, Sanilac, Michigan

Orville Joseph PEMBERTON

b. 17 Apr 1918 in New Baltimore, Macomb, Michigan
d. 23 Mar 1919 in Marine City, St. Clair, Michigan

• 1918 birth register entry from Macomb County Clerk FHL microfilm #979569
• 1919 death register entry transcribed at St. Clair County Courthouse in summer 2007
• 1919 state death certificate from "Deaths, 1897-1920" at SeekingMichigan.org

Alvina Florence PEMBERTON

b. 19 Apr 1919 in Marine City, St. Clair, Michigan
m. 11 May 1938 in Croswell, Sanilac, Michigan to Daniel Robert BEEDON
m. 21 Jan 1956 in Angola, Steuben, Indiana to Arnold Frederick DISTELRATH
d. 12 Nov 1997 in Fort Gratiot, St. Clair, Michigan
Sources:

• 1920 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at 700 N. Vine St. in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1930 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at Ditty Road in Kimball Township, St. Clair, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1938 marriage certificate obtained by mail from Sanilac County Clerk 
• 1950 mentioned in brother John's obituary as residing in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1952 mentioned her father's obituary as residing in Croswell, Sanilac, Michigan
• 1956 marriage certificate obtained by mail from Steuben County Clerk
• 1961 mentioned in mother and sister Madeline's obituaries as residing in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1967 mentioned in sister Nellie's obituary as residing in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1972 mentioned in brother Lovell's obituary as residing in Atlanta, Montmorency, Michigan
• 1997 death certificate obtained by mail from St. Clair County Clerk
• 1997 obituary from The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan) obtained from St. Clair County Public Library in summer 2007
• Photograph of gravestone taken by FindAGrave volunteer at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Cemetery in Lewiston, Montmorency, Michigan

James PEMBERTON (twin)

b. 22 Mar 1921 in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan
d. 22 Mar 1921 in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan
Sources:

• 1921 death register entry transcribed at St. Clair County Courthouse in summer 2007

Joseph PEMBERTON (twin)

b. 22 Mar 1921 in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan
d. 14 Aug 1923 in Marysville, St. Clair, Michigan
Sources:

• 1923 death register entry transcribed at St. Clair County Courthouse in summer 2007

Adele Christine PEMBERTON

b. 22 Nov 1923 in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan
d. 28 Dec 1928 in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
Sources:

• 1928 death register entry transcribed at St. Clair County Courthouse in summer 2007
• 1928 obituary from The Port Huron Times-Herald obtained from St. Clair County Public Library in summer 2007