Person:Eula Wideman (1)

Father

There is much uncertainty about Eula's biological father and even her real maiden name. Her death certificate and gravestone state she was born on 29 Jun 1869 and her death certificate gives her mother as Ruth Graham and father as Jim Wideman. The confusion begins in the 1870 census. On page 56 of township 20 of Elmore County, Alabama, household 387 is labelled only as Graham. The Graham family includes female "B", age 45 - presumably Obedience (Roberts) Graham - Ruth, age 23, several of Ruth's siblings and, lastly, "Niny", age 1 - a known nickname of Eula. No Widemans, no husband of either Obedience or Ruth, and no hint of who the toddler Eula/Niny's father might be. The previous page (55) of the census lists two households with Widemans, numbers 377 and 378. 377 has an H. Wideman, but he is age 75 and is living with Harrises, and 378 is an A. Wideman with (apparently) wife and daughter named Francis. On page 54 of this 1870 census is James Wideman with wife and five children one of which is a son named Ewell born in Aug of 1869. (Eula and Ewell; coincidence?)

A marriage certificate exists for Ruth Graham and Henry Wideman, who were married at the residence of Obedience Graham. The catch is that the marriage occurred on 31 Jul 1870, more than a year after Eula's birth. Where is this Henry Wideman in the 1870 census? Is he indeed Eula's biological father and she was born out of wedlock? Eula's death certificate lists her father as Jim Wideman, not Henry. Is that a typo or is there also a Jim Wideman somewhere? The 1880 census has a household with just two people, Ruthy Wideman, age 33, and Eulah Graham, age 11. Did Henry die between 1870 and 1880? If Eula's father was a Wideman at all, surely her surname would be listed as Wideman by 1880? With no 1890 census available, the next mention of Eula in a census is 1900 and, by that time, she is married to John D. Wingard. Subsequent mentions in family bibles and the death certificate explicitly list Wideman as her maiden name.

1900 Census - Central, Elmore, Alabama

The same census page includes the families of John's younger brother, Christian, and his father and stepmother, Josiah and Mary.

1910 Census - Elmore, Alabama

On the same census page, Eula's mother, Ruth Wideman, is in the house following this one, and John's father, Josiah Christian Wingard, is in the house after Ruth's. Two more Wingard families are on the next census page.

1920 Census - Central, Elmore, Alabama

The same census page includes Eula's mother, Ruth Wideman, in the preceding house. Two more Wingard families are on the next census page.

1930 Census - Central, Elmore, Alabama

The same census page includes the families of two of John and Eula's sons, Beaman and John, Jr. The next page includes another Wingard family.

1940 Census - Central, Elmore, Alabama

The same census page includes the family of John and Eula's son, Beaman, and their daughter, Lovie Wingard, is a lodger in another house. The next page includes another Wingard family.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Alabama, United States. Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974; Index to Deaths, 1908-1959. (Alabama)
   Database online.

   Record for Eula

2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} United States. 1910 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T624).

   Alabama > Elmore > Precinct 6 > District 76 > Sheet 9B

   
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} United States. 1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T625).

   Alabama > Elmore > Central > District 77 > Sheet 1A

   
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} United States. 1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T626).

   Alabama > Elmore > Central > District 8 > Sheet 8B

   
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} United States. 1900 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T623).

   Alabama > Elmore > Central > District 59 > Sheet 19A

   
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} United States. 1880 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T9)
   Database online. Year: 1880; Census Place: Central Institute, Elmore, Alabama; Roll: T9_12; Family History Film: 1254012; Page: 97.3000; Enumeration District: 71; Image: 0494.

   Record for Ruthy Wideman

7. ↑ ^7.0 7.1 Eula N. "Niny" Wideman Wingard, in Find A Grave.
8. ↑ United States. 1870 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publications M593 and T132).
9. ↑ United States. 1940 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T627).

   Alabama > Elmore > Central > District 26-10 > Sheet 6A