Ethel Conners was born on September 6, 1893, the daughter of Henry W. and Bertha (Fisher) Conners in Big Rapids Michigan. In the 1900 Federal Census, Henry and his wife are found in Austin, Michigan. They have four children; Viola (1890), Ora (1892), Ethel (1893), Gertrude (1896). Henry is a farmer who came to Michigan from Canada in 1866. Henry is a naturalized citizen. His wife Bertha came from Germany in 1882 at the age of eighteen. Ethel is six years old at the time of the census and is attending school.

In the 1910 Federal Census, Ethel M. is sixteen years old. Her older sisters, Viola and Ora list their occupation as servants for a private family. Ethel does not list an occupation nor does it appear that she is still in school. Henry and Bertha now have eight children; Viola, Ora, Ethel, Gertrude, Arthur (1901), Earl (1903), Foster (1906), Leslie (1908). Henry list is occupation as Farmer.

In the 1920 Federal Census, Ethel is living in a boarding house on East Dayton Street in Flint, Michigan. She is a machinist in an automotive factory. Ethel M. married Clarence W Boyer on September 3, 1921 in Howell, Michigan.

By the 1930 Federal Census, Ethel and Clarence remain in Flint. Clarence is a machinist for the auto industry. Ethel is a housewife. Ethel and Clarence have a daughter Helen who was born in 1926 and a son, David who was born in 1929. They also have Leslie Connor, listed in the census. He is Ethel’s brother and is listed as a boarder. They lived on Brand Court. At this time I should state that I have seen the “Conner” name spelled with both an “or” and an “er” and I have seen Ethel’s Middle name listed as May and Mae. All these discrepancies have been in Census records or hand written records where the person writing may have written it in error or not verified it.

In the 1940 Federal Census, Ethel and Clarence are living on Brand Court in Flint, Michigan. Clarence still works for the auto industry. They have two children; Helen and David. They have a seventy-nine year old widow, Haniette Sears living with them. It states that she is a friend from Tuscola County, Michigan. Clarence died in 1946.

I wish I knew more about Ethel from the time her husband died in 1946 and her death 43 years later.

Thirty one years ago today, June 16, 1989, Ethel M. Boyer died in Argentine, Genesee County, Michigan at the age of ninety-five years old. She is buried in Beebe Cemetery in the Boyer plot.

Rest in peace, Ethel!

Love, Jan

Ethel Conner Boyer is the wife of my first cousin three time removed, Clarence W. Boyer.