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Research in Other Countries => United States of America => Topic started by: a-l on Monday 02 December 13 10:24 GMT (UK)

Title: Rev. Della
Post by: a-l on Monday 02 December 13 10:24 GMT (UK)
Hi all , I am hoping someone can help me with this please. Was it unusual to have a female Rev. in USA during 1920 / 40 ?       
Title: Re: Rev. Della
Post by: jorose on Monday 02 December 13 14:52 GMT (UK)
My first assumption on seeing the thread title was that Della was the reverend's surname.

Do you know the location/denomination? It would be unusual but not completely unheard of.  One example:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=52522298
Title: Re: Rev. Della
Post by: a-l on Monday 02 December 13 15:31 GMT (UK)
Thankyou for your reply jorose . All I know is Rev. Della Patton was in Indiana in 1941, and Patton was the name of her third husband. Previous names were Bolin, Cohoon and Mcgee her maiden name. I am sorry I don't know the denomination. I don't know where to look for information so any suggestions would be appreciated.
Title: Re: Rev. Della
Post by: shellyesq on Monday 02 December 13 15:51 GMT (UK)
Do you have her in census records?
Title: Re: Rev. Della
Post by: a-l on Monday 02 December 13 16:07 GMT (UK)
Only the 1920 census in Illinois shellyesq . I am curious as to how she became a Rev. maybe it is due to the denomination ? It seemed unusual to me considering the contemporary arguments of accepting women priests into the church.
Title: Re: Rev. Della
Post by: shellyesq on Monday 02 December 13 16:29 GMT (UK)
1840 or 1940?  What town was she living in?  If we can take a look at it, maybe we can find something that will help.
Title: Re: Rev. Della
Post by: a-l on Monday 02 December 13 16:43 GMT (UK)
I'm sorry I meant  the 1920 census , I have amended my previous post . She was living in Lawrence Illinois with her nephew Olin Andrews , her name was Bolin then.
Title: Re: Rev. Della
Post by: shellyesq on Monday 02 December 13 17:05 GMT (UK)
What information mentions her being a Reverend in 1941? 
Title: Re: Rev. Della
Post by: jorose on Monday 02 December 13 17:19 GMT (UK)
Marriage to Bolin (as Cohoon):
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K8B5-SLM
Shows her first marriage ended in divorce.  The marriage was carried out by the Rev. Anderson Bolin - some relation to the husband, I presume.

The Bolins appear to have been Evangelical Church.  Any chance she was a deaconess, or in some similar role,  rather than a reverend?

This could be her in 1940, with husband:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V1YX-NR1
Title: Re: Rev. Della
Post by: a-l on Monday 02 December 13 17:32 GMT (UK)
Thankyou so much jorose that is a great help . Unfortunately my phone cannot access family search but thankyou for looking.
Title: Re: Rev. Della
Post by: a-l on Monday 02 December 13 17:35 GMT (UK)
Thankyou too shellyesq . Della is named Rev . in her sister's obituary in 1941.
Title: Re: Rev. Della
Post by: a-l on Monday 02 December 13 17:40 GMT (UK)
I don't know about the titles in the Evangelical religion but I suppose Rev could be equilavent to something.
Title: Re: Rev. Della
Post by: shellyesq on Monday 02 December 13 17:47 GMT (UK)
It may just be a matter of the person giving the information not knowing the truth or a mix-up with the person from the newspaper writing it down incorrectly.  My grandmother is listed in her brother's obituary as surviving him, but she had been dead for over 20 years. 
Title: Re: Rev. Della
Post by: a-l on Monday 02 December 13 18:06 GMT (UK)
My goodness shellyesq you wouldn't find a worse mistake than that.
Title: Re: Rev. Della
Post by: jorose on Monday 02 December 13 20:09 GMT (UK)
In 1940 "Shack" Patton aged 62, b. Indiana and wife Della, 58, b. Illinois are in Polk, Monroe Co, Indiana.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=98760781&PIpi=6627769
 - this may be him as "Meshach", Della was still living at this point as she is named in his obituary.

The daughter "Lela Haddon" mentioned in his obituary was Lela Patton, daughter of "Shack" Patton and Mary Grub, b. 1911 and m. 1932 (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XFQY-596 , for when you're on a computer that can see familysearch).

I can find Della in 1910 with husband "Elmer" - they are indexed under "Balin" - there is a "Cleris Cahoun", stepson there.
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MK58-FBX

It's not clear what happened to Della after Mr Patton died in 1950.  She is not buried in the same cemetery as him - although his first wife Mary is (she d. 1934).
Title: Re: Rev. Della
Post by: a-l on Tuesday 03 December 13 11:18 GMT (UK)
jorose thank you very much indeed for that wealth of information , I am extremely grateful to you. Did it say anywhere amongst it that she was a Rev ?
Title: Re: Rev. Della
Post by: Priscilla on Tuesday 03 December 13 11:57 GMT (UK)
You may find this of interest: ...

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=bolin&GSfn=anderson&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=5096714&df=all&
Title: Re: Rev. Della
Post by: a-l on Tuesday 03 December 13 12:24 GMT (UK)
Thankyou very much Priscilla I will have a look at that .
Title: Re: Rev. Della
Post by: Erato on Tuesday 03 December 13 13:03 GMT (UK)
Anyone can call himself or herself a "Rev."  It's sort of a meaningless title.  There were some formally ordained female preachers in the United States long before 1920.

http://www.gbhem.org/networking/clergywoman-profile

Title: Re: Rev. Della
Post by: a-l on Tuesday 03 December 13 14:07 GMT (UK)
Thankyou Erato I am happy for the additional information . Now I will have to find out whether or not she was.
Title: Re: Rev. Della
Post by: a-l on Tuesday 03 December 13 14:13 GMT (UK)
Priscilla , I haven't been able to access that link at all it keeps saying it doesn't match anything known.
Title: Re: Rev. Della
Post by: Priscilla on Tuesday 03 December 13 16:50 GMT (UK)
Can't understand that ... but Google website "Find a Grave" and enter name Rev Anderson Bolin and all the information should come up.
Title: Re: Rev. Della
Post by: a-l on Tuesday 03 December 13 18:29 GMT (UK)
Bless you thankyou Priscilla , I will look now.
Title: Re: Rev. Della
Post by: a-l on Wednesday 04 December 13 12:34 GMT (UK)
Priscilla , that was an interesting read indeed , thankyou.
Title: Re: Rev. Della
Post by: a-l on Thursday 05 December 13 15:20 GMT (UK)
Please can someone suggest where I might find a record of her ordainment ? Thankyou.