George Washington Oyler

This blog is coming about as a result of the series I did called Ghosts of Christmas Past. Mr. Oyler is my great grandfather. I was born in 1954 and celebrated my first Christmas in Connecticut that year. Mr. Oyler died in November 1955 so I never spent a Christmas with him. My older brother remembers him. I unfortunately do not. What I know is from family stories and historical records. When you think about it there has never been a better time to learn about your family history. So much information is available on line. Today I read the obituary of my great great grandfather Joseph Oyler, the father of George, who died in 1909. So, if you wonder about your family history get busy and start learning. 

George Washington Oyler was born on August 3, 1865 in Walton, Indiana. The town of Walton was founded in 1852 when the railroad came through. It lies north of Indianapolis and at the time of George's birth was home to about 300. It lies in Tipton Township and the 1870 census shows Joseph Oyler to be a farmer. It would be reasonable to assume Geoge was born at home on the farm. He was the youngest of five children born to Joseph and his wife Susanna. 

The next time we see George in the historical record is April 18, 1891 when he is joined in holy matrimony with Laura Byrd Martin in Fulton, Indiana. How George and Laura met is lost to the sands of time. Fulton where they were wed is about 30 miles north of Walton. A chance meeting somewhere would be likely. The census of 1900 shows George and Byrd ( I've always known her as Byrd not Laura) living in Vigo Township, Indiana as boarders. George is employed as a commercial salesman. Vigo Township is southwest of Indianapolis near the Indiana/Illinois boarder. 

By the 1910 census George and Byrd have relocated to Hanover Township, Ashland County, Ohio. It is located just northwest of Cincinnati. George is listed as a commercial trader in steel ranges. This makes sense and fits with oral family history. My grandmother Byrdis was born in Ohio and was adopted by the Oylers when she was about three years old. She was born in 1907 so everyone is where they should be. Mr. Oyler and his wife and new daughter would travel from town to town going out in the rural areas selling cooking stoves from a horse drawn wagon. If you piece things together George must have been a pretty decent salesman. Records indicate that in 1915 he lived at 538 Myrtle Avenue in Albany, New York. For those who enjoy technology if you go to google maps you can find the house, go to satellite view and then street view and you can see the house where they lived. George is now a General Superintendent for the Wrought Iron Range Company of St. Louis, Missouri. 

By 1917 George, Byrd and Byrdis have relocated to St. Louis and George is now a Department Manager for Wrought Iron Range company. The 1920 census shows them living in St. Louis and my grandmother's name was listed as Eloise B. Oyler. I would always know her as Byrdis. Mr. Oyler apparently made a good living with the Wrought Iron Range  company. Byrdis was able to attend a private school called Hosmer Hall and later attend and graduate from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. George would stay at Wrought Iron Range company until sometime in the late 1930's. When he left he next shows up in Fort Madison, Iowa as the proprietor of the Hotel Lincoln. Keep in mind that in 1940 he would have been 75 years of age. He had spent a good deal of his early life as a traveling salesman and felt he knew what a traveler wanted in a hotel. I'm told he was a rather proper gentleman and would tolerate no coarse language in his establishment. 

At some point in the 1940's George and Byrd sold the hotel and moved to Sparta Township to live with my grandparents, their daughter Byrdis and son in law John. Mr. Oyler didn't take well to retirement and at some point around 1950 he got in the car and went for a drive. He came home that afternoon and advised his wife, daughter and son in law he had purchased the Northern Hotel in Princeton, Illinois. Records indicate he died in Princeton on November 21, 1955 at the age of 90. 

Here are some pictures to fill in the story. 

George Washington Oyler in the 1920's 

George next to his car with Byrd seated inside. The hubcaps indicate the car is a Pontiac and by comparing it to other cars on the Internet it appears to be a 1935 model. 

In the picture above in the striped dress my grandmother Byrdis, next to her Byrd Oyler, the older gentleman on the right is George Oyler. The young fellow in front is my Dad, John. 

The Hotel Lincoln in Fort Madison, Iowa. 

George and Byrd Oyler standing in front of the Northern Hotel in Princeton, Illinois. 

The story wouldn't be complete without this story. Since finding out that George sold Wrought Iron Ranges I've been looking for one at antique shops and anywhere else old appliances were displayed. No luck. Then our daughter Tammie and her girls came to visit us on Tybee Island. They wanted to climb the lighthouse and tour the grounds. In the Keepers house was a Home Comfort stove made by the Wrought Iron Range company of St. Louis, Missouri. 

So, there is George's story. I wish I knew more but with the passing of my grandparents I lost that opportunity.