Gazlay Family History
 

Family HistoryFamily History - Jessie Devoe


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 Jessie Devoe and one of her descendants down to the second generation.


First Generation
1. Jessie Devoe,1 born ____ (parents not determined). Jessie married John Seaman (born ____, parents not determined).

Child of Jessie Devoe and John Seaman:

+2i. Madge Voe (born Marion Seaman), born ca. 1884 in Illinois. Married (1) David Swing Ricker Married (2) Peyton Beattie Locker.

Second Generation
2. Madge Voe (born Marion Seaman)2 (Jessie1), born ca. 1884 in Illinois.1, 2, 3 Madge married, first, 18 November 1909 in Seattle, King County, Washington, David Swing Ricker12 (born 29 April 1878 in Oxford, Butler County, Ohio, the son of Jewett E. Ricker and Mary Ann Swing;1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 David died 2 June 1929 in Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, California5, 6, 11). Madge married, second, 28 July 1921 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, Peyton Beattie Locker14 (born 11 January 1873 in Rivanna, Albemarie County, Virginia, the son of William H. Locker and Hannah J. Tatum;13, 14 Peyton died 3 July 1955 in Bronxville, Westchester County, New York15). Their marriage ended in divorce in ca. 1934.16 David is buried in Elmhurst Cemetery, Joliet, Will County, Illinois.5

Her birth surname was Seaman, as evidenced in the records of her two marriages, the marriage to Peyton Locker also showing the names of Marion’s parents. The 1910 and 1920 U.S. Federal Census records show her birthplace as Illinois. Those records, plus the 1911 Canada Census, show her age corresponding to a birth date in the range of 1884 (1910 census) to 1889 (1920 census). The Canada Census shows her birth date as December 1886.1, 2, 3, 12, 14

Marion was a vaudeville actress, performing under the names Madge Voe (undoubtedly taken from her mother’s maiden name Devoe) and later Marion Vantine. Her early work was in a theatrical road company in the mid-west states. The earliest works found where she is named as a cast member are “The Woman in the Case” (1907), and “A Knight for a Day” (1907). Her earliest Broadway credit is for her performance as Sing Wee in “A Broken Idol” (1909). Other credits include Marie Dressler’s “All Star Gambol” (1913), and “The Green Beetle” (1913). She is credited as Marion Vantine in “Fast and Grow Fat” (1916) and “Over the ’Phone” (1917).

In early 1918 she moved to Los Angeles where a 21 March, 1918 article in the Los Angeles Times stated, “Miss Vantine comes with the reputation of being a good actress—and a crackerjack golfer.” While there, she performed in “Yes or No” (1918), “Mary’s Ankle” (1918), “Under Fire” (1918), “Look Pleasant” (1918), and one of the two leading roles in “Civilian Clothes” (1919). She returned to the New York stage in 1919 again in “Civilian Clothes” (1919), and is credited with performances in “Dodo” (1920), “Seeing Things” (1920), “Beware of Dogs!” (1921), “His Queen” (1925), “Queen Mab” (1925), and “Head First” (1926).

A casting directory published for December 1932 — January 1933 lists her as Marion Vantine and Marion Vantine Locker, both with a Hollywood phone number (probably for her agent, since the number is common to many actors and actresses in the directory), although she has not been found as a cast member in any performances under the Locker name.17

David was a newspaper journalist in Chicago, Los Angeles, the Northwest, and Canada. Born in Oxford, Ohio, he was educated in the Chicago public schools. He graduated from Harvard University in 1902, and spent two years in sociological studies in New York. David joined the staff of the Chicago Evening Post around 1902, and he was the educational editor of the Chicago Tribune 1904-7. He was a frequent contributor to economic and educational reviews and articles. In 1905 he wrote “Unionizing the Schoolteachers,” describing the movement by Margaret Haley to create a national federation of teachers, a union of working women. David “cast his imagination 66 years into the future and saw a Chicago of 10 million souls.” His article included a map showing how the metropolis would expand, and his discussion touched on the future of transportation, communications, environment, education, and public services. His essay “The Making of Millionaires” was used in a 1909 Business Administration textbook. David lived and worked in British Columbia, Canada, for several years starting in 1910, and was the editor there of a weekly news magazine, Public Opinion. An article in 1912 announcing the publication called him “one of the best known newspapermen in America,” and mentions that he was the former editor of the Chicago Daily Tribune, and founder of The Red Book, The Blue Book, Opportunity Magazine of Chicago, and the Chicago Saturday Times. He was editor of Man-to-Man Magazine (later called British Columbia Magazine). Other ventures included promotion manager for Hearst newspapers on the Pacific Coast for eight years; director of advertising and circulation for The Picture Press (1920); and western exploitation manager of the Select Pictures Corporation, distributors of Selznick Pictures.11, 18, 19

David was married at least four times. His first marriage, to Elizabeth Shay, produced his only known child and ended in divorce in mid-1909. His wife initiated the divorce, having discovered his affair with Margaret Voe (purportedly born Marion Vantine, and also called Madge Voe), a vaudeville and stage actress. The marriage in Seattle between D. Ricker and Madge Seaman in November, 1909, is believed to be David and Madge Voe, although her use of the surname Seaman has not been explained. The 1910 U.S. Federal Census shows David and “Madge S. Ricker” living together in Seattle. The middle initial “S” may imply that her middle name or surname was Seaman, either by birth or previous marriage. On 17 September 1910, David Swing Ricker (“of Vancouver publisher”) and Madge Voe Ricker (“of Vancouver, married woman”) applied for permission to purchase 640 acres of land in the Cariboo Land District, British Columbia, Canada. Although no record has been found, he must have divorced Madge in 1912-13, and married Layne Virginia Donaldson in late 1913 in Oregon. A series of newspaper articles in 1914 trace their travels by foot from Vancouver, British Columbia, to San Diego, California, associated with David’s work “for the purpose of gathering data on the preparedness of the Pacific Coast for the growth of business and population expected to follow the opening of the Panama Canal.” His reporting is generally favorable to the conditions and towns along their route, although other reporters were critical of his accounts. David and Layne lived in Los Angeles in 1920, according to the U.S. Federal Census. David’s fourth marriage, to Rosie Luetzsinger (aka Hope Dare, actress) around 1925, is alluded to in newspaper articles about her subsequent marriage in 1939 to Julius Richard “Dixie” Davis, notorious racketeer associated with Dutch Shultz, New York City mobster, and their gang.1, 20, 21, 22, 23

David died on 2 June 1929 in Santa Monica, California, after an operation for appendicitis.11


  1. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, Washington, King County, Seattle City, E.D. 95, Sheet No. 9A, border David S. Ricker, 28, Ohio, editor, magazine; border [wife of 1 year] Madge S. Ricker, 26, Illinois, no children. David’s age here is low by several years.
  2. Canada Census, 1911, British Columbia, Vancouver City, District No. 12, Enumeration District No. 7, Page 21, border David S. Ricker, 31, U. States, April 1880, adver agent; wife Madge Voe Ricker, 24, U. States, Dec. 1886.
  3. U.S. Federal Census, 1920, New York, New York County, New York City, E.D. 787, Sheet No. 6A, Marion Vantine, 31, Illinois, single, actress. The address, 123 West 43rd Street, corresponds with The Town Hall, a performance space that opened on 21 January 1921. At the time of the 1920 census, seven people, including Marion and four other actors and actresses, were enumerated at that address.
  4. Draft Registration Card, World War I, David Swing Ricker, Serial Number 7262, Order Number 5182, age 38; born: 29 April 1880; occupation: newspaper, Republican Paper, Fresno, California; nearest relative: wife, Mrs. L. D. Ricker. Both the 1880 and 1900 U.S. Federal Census records indicate he was born in 1878, not 1880.
  5. Find a Grave (website). Elmhurst Cemetery, Joliet, Will County, Illinois, David Swing Ricker, born: 1878; died: 1929 (from record).
  6. California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994, Los Angeles County, Standard Certificate of Death, David Swing Ricker, died: 2 June 1929 in Santa Monica; born: 29 April 1880 in Oxford, Ohio; age: 49 years 1 month 3 days; married; wife: Rose Ricker; occupation: publisher, Los Angeles Examiner; father: Jewett E. Ricker, born in Ohio; mother: Mary Swing, born in Oxford, Ohio; place of burial: Joliet, Illinois.
  7. U.S. Federal Census, 1880, Ohio, Butler County, Oxford Village, E.D. 27, Page No. 33, Jewett E. Ricker, 31, Ohio, bank clerk; wife Mary A. Ricker, 24, Ohio; son D. Swing [sic, erroneously indexed as Sonny] Ricker, 2, Ohio.
  8. U.S. Federal Census, 1900, Illinois, Cook County, Chicago, E.D. 721, Sheet No. 7A, Jewett E. Ricker, 50, Ohio, November 1849; wife of 25 years Mary Ricker, 44, Ohio, March 1856, 2 children, 2 living; son David S. Ricker, 22, Ohio, April 1878 reporter; son Jewett E. Ricker, Jr., 14, Illinois, March 1886, at school; servant Anna Pearson, 23, Sweden, May 1877, servant; servant Delia Monahan, 28, Ireland, April 1872, servant.
  9. U.S. Federal Census, 1920, California, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles City, E.D. 476, Sheet No. 1A, Layne D. Ricker, F, 36, Tennessee; David S. Ricker, 40, Ohio, director of publicity, motion pict. stud.
  10. The First Five Generations of the Swing Family in America, compiled by Albert H. Swing and Harry P. Swing, April 1961. Available at Heritage Quest Online. This document provides numerous biographical and vital details, but there are few references cited for any of the information.
  11. Obituary, Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois. 4 June 1929, David Swing Ricker, died 2 June 1929 in Santa Monica. Article cites a 2 June 1929 article from Los Angeles, California, which provides biographical details and the names of some of his survivors.
  12. Washington, County Marriages, 1855-2008, County of King, Certificate of Marriage, No. 29823, D. Ricker of County of King, and Madge Seaman of New York City, married on 18 November 1909 in Seattle, King County, Washington.
  13. Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917, Peyton B. Locker, born: 11 January 1873 in Rivanna, Albemarie County, Virginia; father: Wm. H. Locker; mother: Hannah Locker.
  14. New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940, Peyton Beathe [sic, Beattie] Locker, age 47, father: William H. Locker; mother: Hannah J. Tatum; and Madge Seaman Ricker, age 32, father: John Seamon [sic]; mother: Jessie Devoe; married on 28 July 1921 in Manhattan, New York County, New York.
  15. New York, State Death Index, 1880-1956, available at familysearch.org. 1955, Peyton B. Locker, died: 3 July 1955 in Bronxville, New York, age 82 years 1 month.
  16. Divorce Filing, Nevada State Journal, Reno, Nevada, 28 June 1934, Marion V. Locker vs. Peyton B. Locker.
  17. The Standard, Standard Casting Directory, Volume 10, Number 3, December 1932 - January 1933, Hollywood, California. Available at Margaret Herrick Library, Digital Collections (website: digitalcollections.oscars.org). Pages 64, 112, and 145.
  18. Business Administration, Text Prepared by 400 of the Foremost Educators, Business and Professional Men in America. Chicago, DeBower Chapline Company, Publishers of University Textbooks, 1909. Page 299, The Making of Millionaires, by David Swing Ricker. The article leads with a summary of his education and business accomplishments.
  19. The Daily News, New Westminster, British Columbia, 14 February 1912, Page Five, New Weekly Magazine. Article about the new magazine, Public Opinion, edited by David Swing Ricker. The article indicates he arrived in B.C. two years previous, and provides information about several of his business ventures.
  20. Marriage Intentions, Daily News, New York, New York, 5 March 1939, Hope Dare, Dixie Davis Will Wed, Then Separate, It Seems. The article provides details on the intention for the two to wed, prior to the sentencing of Dixie Davis after pleading guilty to conspiracy to contrive and operate a racket, and his testimony against James J. (Jimmy) Hines for racketeering. The article also provides biographical details about Hope Dare, her family background, marriage to David Swing Ricker at age 17, winning beauty contests, her work in the Follies, and meeting Dixie Davis and exposure to the world of gangsters.
  21. Divorce Filing, The Chicago Daily Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, 5 June 1909, Husband’s Misconduct Told By Mrs. David Swing Ricker. The article discusses Mrs. Elizabeth Shay Ricker’s testimony in the trial of her divorce suit against her husband, David Swing Ricker, that they were married on 27 January 1904 and separated in April 1908. They have one daughter, Elizabeth Ann Ricker, age 2 years. Mrs. Ricker said she found her husband living with another woman, Margaret Voe.
  22. The British Columbia Gazette, Volume L, No. 48, Victoria, 1 December, 1910, Land Notices, pages 13706 and 13752, David Swing Ricker and Madge Voe Ricker. Available at Internet Archive (website: archive.org).
  23. The Coos Bay Times, Marshfield, Oregon, 24 January 1914, Noted Writer Reaches City. David Swing and Wife Tramping Coast, Pleased With Marshfield.