Family Group Sheet
NameWilliam Messer
Birth18 Oct 1892, Kentucky
Death9 Dec 1970, Rowan Co., Kentucky
BurialMoore-Messer Cemetery, Christy, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Marriage9 Aug 1915, Rowan Co., Kentucky
SpouseLouada Moore
Birth18 May 1895, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Death24 Jun 1963, Rowan Co., Kentucky
BurialMoore-Messer Cemetery, Christy, Rowan Co., Kentucky
FatherJames Marion Moore (1847-1921)
MotherAmanda Susan Parish (1866-1946)
Children
SpouseOttis Hager Roark
SpouseWalter E. Calvert
3 FRuth Messer
Birth9 Feb 1923, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Death4 Oct 2005, Richmond, Madison Co., Kentucky
Birth13 Apr 1926, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Death26 Jun 2007, Morehead, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Notes for William & Louada (Family)
Rowan Co., Ky marriage book 9, p. 127, records the marriage on 9 Aug 1915 of William Messer, age 22, son of Matison & Lizzie Messer, to Louada Moore, age 20, daughter of J. M. & Susan Moore, both single, both born in Rowan Co., Ky, both residents of Morehead, Ky.
Many online family trees show William’s wife as “Clara M. Luada Largen”, daughter of Robert Lee Largen and Cora M. McPeak. The origin of this attribution seems to be the 1930 census, which records Robert and Cora’s son Kise (John Kiser) Largin with this family, his relationship given as brother-in-law. Researchers apparently inferred that Luada must be Kiser’s sister, and Clara was his only sister of the right age, so they merged the given names. But the actual in-law relationship involves two marriages, not just one - Luada's brother Claude Moore married Kiser's sister Nancy A. Largin/Largen.
Many online family trees show William’s wife as “Clara M. Luada Largen”, daughter of Robert Lee Largen and Cora M. McPeak. The origin of this attribution seems to be the 1930 census, which records Robert and Cora’s son Kise (John Kiser) Largin with this family, his relationship given as brother-in-law. Researchers apparently inferred that Luada must be Kiser’s sister, and Clara was his only sister of the right age, so they merged the given names. But the actual in-law relationship involves two marriages, not just one - Luada's brother Claude Moore married Kiser's sister Nancy A. Largin/Largen.
Census
1920 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Morehead precinct, enumerated 31 Jan, lists on p. 16B as family #188/192:
Messer, William, 26, laborer on railroad; Louada, wife, 25; Aileen, dau, 2; Clotine, dau, 4/12. All born Ky Ky Ky.
1930 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Morehead precinct, enumerated 11 April, lists on p. 10A as family #61:
Messer, William, 36, age at first marriage 22, clay loader in mine; Luada, wife, 34, age at first marriage 30; Alline, dau, 12; Chlotine, dau, 11; Ruth, dau, 7 1/12; James, son, 3. Largin, Kise, brother-in-law, 36, single, trucker. All born Ky Ky Ky.
Kise (full name John Kiser Largin/Largen) is the brother of Nancy Largin who married Luada’s brother Claude Moore. Claude and Nancy are recorded two households above at #59. In between is Claude and Luada’s widowed mother Susan Moore, and in household #62 is their brother Lora Moore.
1940 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Morehead precinct, ED 103-2, enumerated 15 April, lists on p. 3A as family #36, on Christy Creek Rd:
Messer, Wm, 47, farmer; Louada, wife, 44; Alene, dau, 22, single, waitress; Clotine, dau, 21, single, waitress; Ruth, dau, 17; James, son, 13. All born in Kentucky, living in same house in 1935.
The preceding household is headed by Arthur Moore, age 33, son of Louada’s brother Lora, who died in 1932. Lora’s widow Lizzie (Weaver) Moore heads the household above Arthur’s.
Messer, William, 26, laborer on railroad; Louada, wife, 25; Aileen, dau, 2; Clotine, dau, 4/12. All born Ky Ky Ky.
1930 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Morehead precinct, enumerated 11 April, lists on p. 10A as family #61:
Messer, William, 36, age at first marriage 22, clay loader in mine; Luada, wife, 34, age at first marriage 30; Alline, dau, 12; Chlotine, dau, 11; Ruth, dau, 7 1/12; James, son, 3. Largin, Kise, brother-in-law, 36, single, trucker. All born Ky Ky Ky.
Kise (full name John Kiser Largin/Largen) is the brother of Nancy Largin who married Luada’s brother Claude Moore. Claude and Nancy are recorded two households above at #59. In between is Claude and Luada’s widowed mother Susan Moore, and in household #62 is their brother Lora Moore.
1940 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Morehead precinct, ED 103-2, enumerated 15 April, lists on p. 3A as family #36, on Christy Creek Rd:
Messer, Wm, 47, farmer; Louada, wife, 44; Alene, dau, 22, single, waitress; Clotine, dau, 21, single, waitress; Ruth, dau, 17; James, son, 13. All born in Kentucky, living in same house in 1935.
The preceding household is headed by Arthur Moore, age 33, son of Louada’s brother Lora, who died in 1932. Lora’s widow Lizzie (Weaver) Moore heads the household above Arthur’s.
