Rosa's Cousins - James Lester Shipman

James Lester Shipman was another one of Rosa's 1/2 1st cousins, so he was also my 1/2 1st cousin 3 times removed. James was the oldest child of William Lester and Elizabeth (Stewart) Shipman, born 9 Apr 1893 in Michigan. On his World War I registration James reported he was born as Vassar Michigan and on his World War II registration he reported he was born at Caro Michigan. Both of these were in Tuscola County, about 10 miles apart. Maybe he was born on a farm somewhere between them.

At the time of the 1900 census James appeared in the household of his parents as a 7 year old who had attended school. Also in the household was his one sister Gladys, spelled there as Gladdis, and his 65 year old grandmother Hulda Shipman. They were living at Metamora in Lapeer County Michigan. Lapeer was the next county south of Tuscola. His father was working as a farm laborer. By 1910 the family had moved back to Tuscola County, and 17 year old James was shown with his parents and sister in Wells Township. His occupation was farmer, working out. This entry was dated 15 Apr 1910, but he was probably the same 17 year old James Shipman listed in the entry dated 11 May 1910 in Tuscola Township in Tuscola County. There he was 1 of 2 hired men in the household of William Boardman, a dairy farmer. Then it was the next month, 4 Jun 1910 when James L. Shipman married Laura P. Frisbie. James listed his age as 18, (he probably was just 17) and Laura was 17 and had her father's consent. He listed his place of residence as Wilmot, working on a farm.

When he registered for the draft for World War I in 1917, he claimed exemption because he had a wife and 3 children to support. They were living at 779 Coplin in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. Jame was working in real estate for Higgins Real Estate Company. For the 1920 census they appear to have moved down the street for their address was 671 Coplin Ave. James and Laura then had 4 children, 3 daughters: Maxine, Donna and Geraldine and 1 son, Lester James who was 11/12 years old. By now James was working as a mechanic for a motor company.

I have not yet found James in the 1930 census, however I did find Laura as the head of a household living at 14811 Lozier Ave in Detroit. She was marked as divorced. There were now 5 children, with the youngest, Wayne at age 5. The two oldest girls were working, Maxine as a telephone operator and Donna as a cashier for a theater box office. In 1940 Laura was still in Detroit at a different address, working as a hospital maid, with only her youngest son, 15 year old Walter W in the household. On 6 Aug 1942, Laura remarried to Leon W. Livermore. She died in Florida 22 Jan 1986.

James was on the 1940 census in Cortland, DeKalb County, Illinois working as a farm operator. Cortland was a small town as Wikipedia gives the 1940 population as 230. James had remarried to Alice Katherine Klemm 2 Feb 1928 at Oregon, Illinois. They had 2 children, Katherine in 1932 and Alice Marie in 1934. Alice Marie died in 1935 before her 1st birthday. Katherine was in the household in 1940 age 7, along with her 21 year old half-brother, Lester. When James registered for the World War II Draft in 1942, he was living at Maple Park in DeKalb County, but was working at Hammond Indiana for the Pullman Standard Car Manufacturing Company.

It was just a few more years before James died, 10 Jun 1945, at Tinley Park, Cook County, Illinois. He was buried at Saint Marys Catholic Cemetery, Maple Park, DeKalb County, Illinois. His widow Alice, who died in 1969, was also buried there.