DELBERT AUSTIN CONVERSE

(NO GRAVESTONE)

B. December 21, 1896 in Grayslake, Lake County, IL
D. January 23, 1967 (Last residence: Round Lake, Lake County, IL)
Find A Grave memorial (click here)

(NOTE: It has been documented that Delbert was married to Dorothy C. (Sharper) Converse but no definite evidence has been discovered to confirm.)  (See section pertaining to Dorothy C. (Sharper) Converse buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery)

According to the McHenry Plaindealer (McHenry IL) Thursday, February 23, 1905, page 5:

   “We have recently been notified of the death of Harry, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Converse, of Gary, S. D.  Mr. and Mrs. Converse were former residents of Volo.” 

    • John B. Converse born June 1884 in South Dakota
    • Cynthia A. (Converse) Battensby born August 1886 in South Dakota; married William James Battensby (1858-unknown) on August 15, 1908 in Deuel County, SD; in 1900 William Battensby lived with William Robert and Nancy Paddock in Wauconda Township, Lake County, IL as a laborer; in 1930 and 1940 Cynthia and several daughters lived in a home for the feeble minded in Redfield, Spink County, SD; Cynthia died April 2, 1959 in Spink County, SD.
    • Fred Converse born June 27, 1887 in South Dakota; Fred died April 1955

According to the Argus-Leader (Sioux Falls SD) Wednesday, April 27, 1955, page 5:

“Gary, S.D. – Converse, Fred, 67. Funeral services to be held at Ft. Snelling, Minn., Thursday.  Died in North Dakota.  Born at Gary, June 27, 1887.  Resident of Gary community most of his life.    Veteran of World War I.  Survivors are four sisters and three brothers.”

    • Alma L. (Converse) Stangeland born September 3, 1889; married Robert Martin Stangeland (1875-1961) on January 14, 1908 in Codington County, SD; Alma died August 18, 1972; Alma and Robert are buried in Grandview Cemetery, Gary, Deuel County, SD
    • Cora Ann Converse born July 12, 1895 in Fremont Center, Lake County, IL; Cora died February 14, 1974 in Clear Lake, Deuel County, SD; buried in Grandview Cemetery, Gary, Deuel County, SD

According to the Argus-Leader (Sioux Falls SD) Monday, July 27, 1908, page 6:

“A VERY UNUSUAL CASE AT CLEAR LAKE – Clear Lake, July 27. – (Special to the Argus-Leader.) – An unusual case was that of Cora Converse, aged 15, who as the result of a hearing in the probate court in this city has been committed to the state home for the feeble-minded at Redfield. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Converse, well known residents of Gary.  There are ugly rumors afloat to concerning the girl and a certain man who resides in this (Deuel) county, and it was expected an arrest would be made.  It was announced that a warrant would be sworn out for his arrest, but this plan seems to have been changed as no arrest has yet been made and it now is likely that nothing further will be done.”

    • James Converse born in 1900 in South Dakota; James died December 5, 1907 in Gary, Deuel County, SD; buried in Grandview Cemetery, Gary, Deuel County, SD
    • Clarence Lansing Converse born May 19, 1902 in South Dakota; married Florence Isabell Hoy (1912-2004) on May 8, 1929 in Codington County, SD, daughter of Peter Hoy (1877-1951) and Lena K. (Kettleson) Hoy (1892-1960); Florence married (2) unknown Buege; in 1950 Clarence and Florence lived in Bellingham, Whatcom County, WA; Clarence died December 4, 1963 in Stearns County, MN; Clarence and Florence are buried in Foster Cemetery, Bayview, Mille Lacs County, MN

Additional Information:

According to the 1900 U.S. Census for Herrick Township, Deuel County, SD, the household members were:

“Cyress Convers (sic), head, born Jun 1851, age 48, married 22 years, born in Illinois, father born in Vermont, mother born in Massachusetts, Occupation: Farmer; Bell Convers, wife, born Nov 1861, age 38, married 22 years, 8 children born, 8 children living, born in Illinois, father born in England, mother born in Illinois; Harry L. Convers, son, born Nov 1881, age 18, single, born in Illinois, Occupation: Farm laborer; Johnny B Convers, son, born Jun 1884, age 15, single, born in South Dakota; Zynthiy A Converse, daughter, born Aug 1887, age 12, single, born in South Dakota; Fredy Convers, son, born Jun 1889, age 10, single, born in South Dakota; Alma L. Convers, daughter, born Sep 1891, age 8, single, born in South Dakota; Cora A. Convers, daughter, born July 1895, age 4, single, born in Illinois; Adelrbt Convers, son, born Dec 1897, age 2, single, born in Illinois; Edwards Balands, boarder, born Apr 1820, age 80, single, born in Wales, parents born in Wales, Immigration year: 1834, Years in US: 56, Naturalization: alien”

According to the 1905 South Dakota, State Census:

“Cyrus Converse, age 54, born 1851 in Illinois, parents born in Vermont; Belle Converse, age 44, born 1861 in Illinois, parents born in Illinois; Abbie Converse, age 26, born 1879 in Illinois; Harry Converse, age 23, born 1882 in Illinois; John Converse, age 21, born 1884 in South Dakota; Cynthia Converse, age 18, born 1887 in South Dakota; Fred Converse, age 17, born 1888 in South Dakota; Alma Converse, age 15, born 1890 in South Dakota; Cora Converse, age 10, born 1895 in Illinois; Delbert Converse, age 9, born 1896 in Illinois; Clarence Converse, age 3, born in 1902 in South Dakota; Almer Converse, age 2, born 1903 in South Dakota”

According to the 1910 U.S. Census for Herrick Township, Deuel County, SD the household members were:

“Cyrus Converse, head, age 59, married once for 31 years, born in Illinois, father born in Vermont, mother born in Massachusetts, occupation: farmer – general farm; Belle Converse, wife, age 49, married once for 31 years, 10 children born, 8 children living, born in Illinois, father born in England, mother born in Illinois; John  Converse, son, age 23, single, born in South Dakota, occupation: laborer – at home; Delbert Converse, son, age 15, single, born in Illinois, occupation: working – at home; Clarence Converse, son, age 8, single, born in South Dakota”

According to the U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918:

“Name in full: Delbert Converse; Age in yrs: 21; Home address: Gary, So. Dak; Date of birth: December 21st 1896; Where were you born?: Grays Lake, Illinois; I am: 1. A native of the United States.; Father’s birthplace: Grays Lake, Illinois; Name of employer: Farming for Himself; Place of employment: near Gary, So. Dak.; Name of nearest relative: Belle Converse; Address of nearest relative: Gary, So. Dak.; Race: White; Medium height; Medium build Color of eyes: Dark Blue; Color of hair: Black; Signed: June 5th 1918”

According to the 1920 U.S. Census for Herrick Township, Deuel, SD, the household members were:

“Cyrus Converse, head, age 68, married, born in Illinois, father born in Vermont, mother born in Ohio, occupation: farmer – general; Belle Converse, wife, age 58, married, born in Illinois, parents born in Illinois; John Converse, son, age 34, single, born in South Dakota, occupation: farm laborer – home farm; Fred Converse, son, age 31, single, born in South Dakota, occupation: farmer – general farm; Delbert Converse, son, age 24, single, born in Illinois, occupation: farmer – general farm; Clarence Converse, son, age 17, single, born in South Dakota, occupation: farm laborer – general farm”

According to the U.S., World War II Draft Registration cards, 1942:

“Name: Dalbert Austin Converse; Place of Residence: Ninth Ave. Hotel, 9th and Market, San Diego, San Diego County, CA; Mailing Address: Same; Telephone: none; Age in Years: 45; Date of Birth: Dec. 21, 1896; Place of Birth: Lake County, Illinois; Name and Address of Person Who Will Always Know Your Address: Flo. Crockett, 1030 Broadway, San Diego, Calif.; Employer’s Name and Address: R. V. Dennis Construction Co., Mission Valley, San Diego, Calif.; Race: White; Height: 5’ 8”; Weight: 165; Eyes: Blue; Hair: Black, Gray; Complexion: Ruddy; Other obvious physical characteristics that will aid in identification: Scar on chin – Scar on forehead; Signed April 26, 1942″

According to the U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014:

“Name: Delbert Converse; Social Security Number: 327-03-6766; Birth Date: 21 Dec 1896; Issue Year: Before 1951; Issue State: Illinois; Last Residence: 60073, Round Lake, Lake, Illinois, USA; Death Date: Jan 1967”