Person:William Clabeau (1)

Donna Casey indicates that Philip Clabeau's 1881 obituary indicates he had one surviving child.

1870: Cannot find William in the census.

1880: census identifies William as son of Philip, but we have reason to believe that someone other than Johanna Betz Clabeaux is his mother: more than one census indicates she had no children. 1900 census places William's birth December 1869. The following year (1870), Johanna was still single. So William is most likely Philip's son, but not by Johanna, although she likely raised him. (Philip died when William was 11.)

1889 Buffalo City Directory: Clabeau, William E. Telegraph operator h. 149 Hickory (149 Hickory is his grandfather's house, namely, Philip Clabeaux. We see different offspring of Philip living in this house, even when Philip himself is "down and out" seeking an increase in his military pension based on his decreasing disability from his war injury. Philip finally deeds the house to Joanna Betz Clabeaux. By the way this house is very near to the Clabeaux Bros.Planning Mill on Clinton and Spring. We just don't see any obvious connection of Philip with the planning mill in any of the information we have found so far. We think perhaps Philip was on the "outs" with the rest of the family.

1893 William E. Western Union Tel. Co. 943 Main Street, h. 26 West Street

1900 census: William is identified as boarder, living with Johanna (widowed now; 0 births/ 0 living), and HER mother, Hannah Betz.

1901city directory: Clabeau, Wm. E. Manager, W.U. Telegraph Station K

              r. 178 Lafayette Avenue
        He is documented as having married Jesse Taylor in 1900.

1904 Buffalo City Directory William E. is at 262 Delaware Ave.

1905 Census: William Clabeau, 35, operator, at 66 Whitney Place, Buffalo, NY in the 1905 state census. With him: Jessie M., wife, 31, b. US.

1906 Buffalo City Directory: William E., Telegraph Operator r. The Columbia. I often see the "r" for residence and "h" for home entered incorrectly. If William was actually living here versus working here, there is a Lodging House at 129-131 Main Street. The Columbia Hall is listed at 450 S. Division. It is likely that a Western Union office would be inside this Columbia residence as well.

Last appearance in Buffalo is this 1906 city directory.

1910 US Census - Ward 7, Chicago, Cook Co., IL, Sheet 7B & 8A: 4846 Calumet Avenue (with Goldstein & Custer families), Clabeau, William, 43, m1, 9 years, self and parents b. NY; telegrapher, com. office -, Jessie, wife, 37, m1, 9 years, 0 births 0 living, self and parents b. N [next page:] Willman, Mildred, cousin, 27?, widow, 1 birth, 1 living, self and parents b. NY, actress, theatre -, Richard, cousin, 3, self and parents b. NY

13 February 2004; contacted by Lois Schreiber Watkin (wat16 AT comcast.net), descendant of William E. Clabeau:

"I am the granddaughter of William E. Clabeau. His information is listed under item #9, Phillip Betz [on http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jillaine/BuffaloBetz.html]. We do not believe he is related to the Betz line for the same reasons listed in your research. I cannot, however, establish who his mother was because we believe his birth records were lost in the 1911 Albany fire.

"What I can tell you is that I have photos of the Betz family that include John C. Betz, Johanna B. Betz Clabeau, Elizabeth Betz, Eugenia (Jennie Grass), Elmer and Willard Grass and what appears to be their wives at the family home, 43 Clarendon Place, Buffalo. Although not dated, I am guessing they were taken somewhere between 1920 and 1930. Willard's wife was referenced as 'Polly' in an individual photo. There is also a photo of Willard and his wife but no mention of name. The collection of photos are in an album compiled by William and his notation on the Betz page is 'My folks at home, 43 Clarendon Place, Buffalo'. I also have telegrams documenting John C. and Jennies' deaths.

"William E. Clabeau was married to 'Jessie' in the early 1900s. Although I have not confirmed, we believe she died around 1915 to 1920. [See below; it looks like they divorced.] They did not have any children. He worked for Western Union all his life and spent time traveling. He came to Chicago around 1910. Census records indicate he lived with Jessie, her cousin, and child. He married my grandmother, Catherine Clara McKenny Duggan in 1925. (She was at that time a widow and worked at Western Union.) They had one child, my mother, Katherine Clara Clabeau and lived in Clarendon Hills, IL where William died of stroke in 1930. He and Catherine are buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery, Hillside, IL.

"I hope you find this information interesting and valuable. If there are researchers looking for these individuals, I would be happy to provide copies of my materials. I will need to continue my search for William and would ask if you have the name(s) of the Catholic Churches in Buffalo. It would help if I could find a baptismal record.

Sincerely, Lois Schreiber Watkin 3916 Salem Court Plano, TX 75023 972-596-2610"

From Lois Watkin, 6 Mar 2004: Per Williams' written chronology of his work history, he went to Chicago in August of 1907 and returned to Buffalo in November 1907. He went back to Chicago Main office of Western Union on February 1, 1908 and stayed there until his death in 1931.

From Lois Watkin, 11 January 2005:

"I've not completely closed the loop on this but here's what I know: 1. I've always assumed Mildred and Richard to be cousins to Jessie since I can find no record of a Mildred and Richard in the Clabeau line. 2. I found Jessie in the 1920 census in Port Stanley, Lopez Island, San Juan Islands, WA. She was listed as wife to a Frank W. Leison and Richard Willman listed as step-son (stay with me here, it gets worse) 3. Mildred Willman is listed in the 1920 census in Seattle, WA living with Solomon and Henrietta Lauridsen listed as Step-daughter. 4. I found Mildred in the 1930 census in Seattle, WA as Mrs. R.D. Glover (based on a notation in Williams' address book) 5. I cannot find Jessie or Richard Willman past 1920.

William Clabeau remarried in 1925 to my Grandmother, Clara McKenney Dungan (civil ceremony, no church). I assume between 1915 and 1925, he and Jessie divorced although I think it was closer to 1915/16. I just found out today that Jessie purchased two lots of land in Port Stanley in 1916. No record of any land purchase by William so I'm thinking they were divorced then and she bought land in their settlement.

Alot of what I have is based on Williams' notebook and photo album. Many pictures of Port Stanley between 1913 and 1915. I have shared many photos with the Lopez Island Museum and will hopefully get there sometime this year. There are records in Friday Harbor that may clear up the divorce issue.

Sorry probably more info that you wanted. I've been trying to make the connection with the Willmans for quite some time with no luck. I need to find Henrietta Lauridsen's maiden name since her marriage to Soloman was the second. Was trying to connect Henrietta back to Buffalo." [end email]

1. ↑ 1900 U.S. Census Soundex - NY
   44, 177, 8, 41.

   Living with [stepmother?] Johanna Betz Claybo and grandmother (Hannah Betz), age 30.

2. ↑ Obituary
   Buffalo newspaper.

   Clabeau - in Hinsdale, IL. Oct. 6, 1931, William E., formerly of Buffalo, NY, husband of Clara Clabeau, father of Katherine, and nephew of Mrs. J.M. Clabeau.

3. ↑ 1900 U.S. Census Soundex - NY.
4. ↑ 1910 U.S. Census
   Chicago, Cook Co., IL.