Gazlay Family History
 

Family HistoryFamily History - Ray Welker


Key:1.“+” before a child’s name indicates the child has their own entry in the next generation.
 2.“born xxxx” indicates the child is under 18 years of age so the birth date is not shown.
This family history features Ray Welker and three of his descendants down to the second generation.


First Generation
1. Ray Welker,1 born 29 July 1893 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan, the son of Jeremiah Welker and Martha Miller;1, 2, 3, 4, 5 died January 1970.3, 6 Ray married, first, November 1912 in St. Joseph County, Indiana, Ruth Anna Payne3 (born 24 April 1896 in Arlington Township, Van Buren County, Michigan, the daughter of Charles J. Payne and Julia Anna Crippin;3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Ruth died 7 January 1924 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan8, 9). Ray married, second, 27 October 1928, Helen Mae Love13 (born 1 February 1908 in Marion, Marion County, Ohio, the daughter of William Love and Myrtle Ramey;5, 12, 13, 14, 15 Helen died 21 January 1994 in Galesburg, Kalamazoo County, Michigan13, 14, 15, 16). Ray is buried in Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan.3 Ruth is buried in Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan.8 Helen is buried in Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan.13

Children of Ray Welker and Ruth Anna Payne:

 2i. Bernard Welker, born 3 June 1913 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan;17 died 3 June 1913 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan.17
+3ii. Martha Ann Welker, born 30 June 1914 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan; died 28 February 1990 in Los Angeles, California. Married Jerome Louis Burton.
 4iii. James Edward Welker, born 19 April 1921 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan;5, 18, 19 died 14 July 1935 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan.18, 19 James is buried in Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan.18

  1. Draft Registration Card, World War I, Ray Welker, No. 37, born: 2 February 1893 in Bangor, Michigan; occupation: farming; married, wife and 1 child.
  2. Find a Grave (website). Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan, Ray Welker, born: 2 February 1893 in Michigan; died: 1970 (from record, which provides the names and links for his parents, siblings, two wives, and one child).
  3. Indiana Marriages, 1811-2018/2019, Application for Marriage License [Male and Female separately, but combined here], Ray Welker, born: 2 February 1891 in Bangor, Michigan [sic, his birth record shows 1893]; farmer; father: J. Welker, farmer, born in Ohio; mother: Martha J. Miller, born in Bangor, Michigan; first marriage; Ruth Payne, born: 25 April 1893 [sic, her birth record shows 1896] in Lawrence, Michigan; father; Chas. Payne, farmer, born in England; mother: Anna Crippen, born in Decatur, Michigan; first marriage; both affidavits signed: 9 November 1912 in St. Joseph County, Indiana. [Their actual marriage date is not shown in these records but is presumed to be shortly after the date of the marriage license].
  4. U.S. Federal Census, 1920, Michigan, Van Buren County, Bangor Township, E.D. 180, Sheet No. 10B, Ray Walker [sic, Welker], 26, Michigan, farmer, general farm; wife Ruth Walker, 23, Michigan; daughter Martha A. Walker, 5, Michigan; border Claud P. Johnson, 47, New York, widow, laborer, farm; border Theron Johnson, 11, Michigan.
  5. U.S. Federal Census, 1930, Michigan, Van Buren County, Bangor Township, E.D. 80-7, Sheet No. 3B, Ray Welker, 37, Michigan, first married age 19, farmer, general; wife Helen Welker, 22, Ohio, first married age 20; daughter Martha Welker, 15, Michigan; son James Welker, 8, Michigan; mother Martha Welker, 73, Michigan, widow, first married age 19.
  6. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Family Search (website), Ray Welker, died: January 1970; born: 2 February 1893; last place of residence: Kalamazoo, Michigan.
  7. Michigan Births, 1867-1902; Ruth Payne, born: 24 April 1896 in Arlington, Van Buren County, Michigan; father: Charles Payne, born in England; mother: Anna Payne, born in Michigan.
  8. Find a Grave (website). Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan, Ruth Arvea [sic] Payne Welker, born: 2 February 1897; died: 1924 (from record, which provides the names and links for her husband and one child).
  9. Michigan, Death Certificates, 1921-1952. Ruth Ann Welker, died: 7 January 1924 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan; born: 24 April 1896 in Lawrence, Michigan; father: Charles Payne; mother: Anna Crippen.
  10. U.S. Federal Census, 1900, Michigan, Van Buren County, Arlington Township, E.D. 131, Sheet No. 5A, Charles Payne, 34, England, Apr. 1866; farmer; wife of 13 years Anna Payne, 30, Michigan, June 1869, 4 children, 3 living; son Thomas Payne, 11, Michigan, Nov. 1888; daughter Rachael Payne, 8, Michigan, Dec. 1892; daughter Ruth Payne, 4, Michigan, Apr. 1896.
  11. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, Michigan, Van Buren County, Arlington Township, E.D. 148, Sheet No. 11B, Charles J. Payne, 44, England, farmer, general farm; wife of 23 years Anna J. Payne, 41, Michigan, 6 children, 4 living; daughter Rachael M. Payne, 18, Michigan; daughter Ruth N. Payne, 14, Michigan; daughter Esther M. Payne, 9, Michigan; ward Anna J. Payne, 3, Michigan; border Syrene Danner, 84, Vermont; border Arris Deaner, 57, Ohio, married for 3 years, carpenter, house.
  12. Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003; Marion County, Helen M. Love, born; 1 February 1908 in Marion, Marion County, Ohio; father: W. W. Love; mother: Murtel Ramey.
  13. Find a Grave (website). Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan, Helen Welker, born: 1908; died: 1994 (from record, which provides the name and link for her husband). She shares her gravestone with her husband. Their marriage date is on the gravestone.
  14. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), Death Files, Helen M. Welker, died: January 1994; born: 1 February 1908; residence zip code: 49007 [corresponding to Kalamazoo, Michigan].
  15. Michigan Deaths, 1971-1996; Helen Mae Welker, died: 21 January 1994 in Galesburg, Kalamazoo County, Michigan; born: 1 February 1908.
  16. Michigan Deaths and Burials, 1800-1995, available at familysearch.org. Helen Mae Welker, died: 21 January 1994 in Galesburg, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, age 85; father: William Love; mother: Myrtle Ramey.
  17. Michigan Deaths and Burials, 1800-1995, available at familysearch.org. Bernard Welker, died: 3 June 1913 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan; father: Roy Welker; mother: Ruth Payne. [Neither his age nor birth date are shown in this record, but it is presumed he was born the same day.]
  18. Find a Grave (website). Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan, James Edward Welker, born: 1922; died: 14 July 1935 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan (from record, which includes the text from his obituary; and provides the names and links for his parents).
  19. Michigan, Death Certificates, 1921-1952. James Edward Welker, died: 14 July 1935 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan; born: 19 April 1921 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan; father: Ray Welker; mother: Ruth Anna Payne.
Second Generation
3. Martha Ann Welker2 (Ray1), born 30 June 1914 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan;1, 2, 3, 4, 5 died 28 February 1990 in Los Angeles, California.1, 2, 3 Martha married Jerome Louis Burton7 (born 31 March 1911 in International Falls, Koochiching County, Minnesota, the son of Mitchell Burton and Lena Greengard;6, 7 Jerome died 14 August 1971 in Los Angeles, California6, 7). Martha is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale), Glendale, Los Angeles County, California.1 Jerome is buried in Mount Zion Temple Cemetery, Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota.6

  1. Find a Grave (website). Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale), Glendale, Los Angeles County, California, Martha Welker Welker Burton, born: 30 June 1914; died: 28 February 1990 (from record, which provides the name and link for her husband).
  2. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), Social Program Correspondence/Document, Martha Anna Welker, alias: Martha Welker Burton, died: 28 February 1990; born: 30 June 1914 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan; father: Ray Welker; mother: Ruth A. Payne.
  3. California Death Index 1940-1997; Ancestry (website), and Familysearch (website). Martha Welker Burton, died: 28 February 1990 in Los Angeles, California; born: 30 June 1914 in Michigan; father: Welker; mother: Payne.
  4. U.S. Federal Census, 1920, Michigan, Van Buren County, Bangor Township, E.D. 180, Sheet No. 10B, Ray Walker [sic, Welker], 26, Michigan, farmer, general farm; wife Ruth Walker, 23, Michigan; daughter Martha A. Walker, 5, Michigan; border Claud P. Johnson, 47, New York, widow, laborer, farm; border Theron Johnson, 11, Michigan.
  5. U.S. Federal Census, 1930, Michigan, Van Buren County, Bangor Township, E.D. 80-7, Sheet No. 3B, Ray Welker, 37, Michigan, first married age 19, farmer, general; wife Helen Welker, 22, Ohio, first married age 20; daughter Martha Welker, 15, Michigan; son James Welker, 8, Michigan; mother Martha Welker, 73, Michigan, widow, first married age 19.
  6. Find a Grave (website). Mount Zion Temple Cemetery, Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, Jerome Louis Burton, born: 31 March 1911 in International Falls, Koochiching County, Minnesota; died: 14 August 1971 in Los Angeles, California (from record, which provides the names and links for his parents, siblings, and wife).
  7. California Deaths and Burials, 1776-2000, Jerome L. Burton, died: 17 August 1971 in San Gabriel, California; born: 31 March 1911 in Minnesota; married; salesman; father: Michell Burton, born in Wisconsin; mother: Lena Greengard, born in Missouri; spouse: Martha W. Welker.