Thelma Blake - dismalscientist86/FamilyTree GitHub Wiki

• Born: January 17, 1900
• Died: May 13, 1964
• Spouse: Dale Van Eman
• Children: Evelyn Van Eman, Bruce Van Eman
• Lived in: Floyd, Iowa; Greene, Iowa; Butler, Iowa; Parkersburg, Iowa
• Relationship: Miriam/Amy Sandler> Danielle Havicon > Carolyn Van Eman > Bruce Van Eman > Thelma Blake

Early Life (1900-1919)

1900 Census

Thelma was an infant and lived on a farm in Union Township, Iowa with her parents, George and Julia. Her parents were both born in the United States, but her maternal grandparents were born in Norway and her paternal grandfather was born in England. Her father was a farmer, and rented the farm. Her parents had only been married a year when she was born.

1905 Iowa Census

Thelma was 5 years old and lived in Lloyd, Iowa.

1910 Census

Thelma was 10 years old and her family were in Long Beach during the 1910 Census. Her father, George listed his occupation as "own income". I think they may have been in Long Beach on vacation, since they were back in Iowa by the 1915 state census.

Apparently, a lot of people from Iowa visited and moved to Long Beach - so many people moved between Iowa and Long Beach that Long Beach developed the nickname ``Iowa By the Sea''.

1915 Iowa Census

Thelma was 15 years old and lived in Union township in Iowa. Her father, George, was a farmer and made $1,800 a year. He had 2 years of high school education and no college. Their farm was worth $14,000. Her mother, Julia, had 4 years of high school education and no college.

They had 4 calves, 1 steer 1 heifer, 6 cows kept for milk, 3 horses, 50 swine, and 150 fowls on their farm.

1916 Iowa Recorder

Thelma was in the school play New Men and Old Acres at the opera house alongside her future husband Dale Van Eman.

Education and Marriage (1920 - 1925)

1920 Census

Her father, George, worked as a farmer. Thelma was 19 and in school, still living in her parent’s household. They were still on a farm in Union Township, but now her father owned the farm.

University of Iowa State Yearbooks:

1922 Thelma was a junior and part of Edda Society, a literary club.

1924 Member of Phi Beta Kappa

1923 Iowa Recorder:

Thelma worked as a teacher in Northwood, and returned to Greene for an Easter visit.

1924 Marriage License:

Dale married Thelma Yolanda Blake on June 18, 1924. He was an attorney at law. They were married at the Blake farm "1 mile north of Greene, Iowa"

1925 Iowa Census:

Dale and Thelma lived in Butler, Iowa in a house they rented for $25 a month. They both had a 4 year college education. Their enumerator was sloppy. Lots of crossed-out corrections (years of education, value of home).

Family Life (1925 - 1948)

1927 Birth Certificate:

Their daughter, Evelyn Jean Van Eman, was born on December 9, 1927. Dale’s occupation is lawyer and Thelma’s occupation is housewife. They were living in Parkersburg, Iowa.

1930 Census:

Dale, Thelma and Evelyn lived in Parkersburg, Iowa. They now owned their home, which was valued at $7,000. They had a radio. Dale was a Lawyer at a general practice.

1931 Birth Certificate:

Their son, Bruce Blake Van Eman, was born on January 17, 1931 at 8:00 in the morning. Dale was still a lawyer and reported that he had been in that profession for 8 years.

1937 Iowa Recorder:

Dale and Thelma bought property from Henrietta Uhlenhopp in Parkersburg, Iowa.

1940 Census:

Dale, Thelma, Evelyn, and Bruce lived in Parkersburg, Iowa. They were in the same home in 1940 as they were in 1935, and it continued to be valued at $7000. Dale continued to work as an attorney at law. Thelma was a housewife. The kids were 9 and 12 and were both attending school.

1942 Draft Registration:

Thelma was listed as Dale's point of contact. They lived in Parkersburg, Iowa.

Later Years (1949 - 1964)

1949: Wedding Anniversary. Dale and Thelma had a large gathering that was covered in the local paper. Their married daughter, Evelyn Leach, attended. Their future daughter-in-law, Mildred Cuvelier, "had charge of the serving".

1950 Census:

Dale, Thelma, and Bruce lived in Parkersburg, Iowa on Bethel Street. Dale was working as a lawyer in a private practice. Bruce was 19 and not working, presumably going to school.

Find a Grave Index: Thelma died in 1964 at the age of 64 and Dale died on December 23, 1989 at age 90. They are buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Parkersburg, Iowa with a joint gravestone.