Charles W. Hershey (1853-1945)

Charles W. Hershey was born on June 26, 1853 in Illinois.  He was the son of Joseph M. Hershey and Catherine Liard. 

In 1880, Charles and his widowed mother were living in Wabash, Wabash County, Illinois, where Charles was working as a school teacher.

Charles married Laura Belle Swift on March 30, 1884 in Wabash County, Illinois.  He was 31 years old and she was 17 years.  Laura was born on August 26, 1866 in Denison, Lawrence County, Illinois.

Charles and Laura were the parents of five children:

Charles Jeremiah “Jere” Hershey             born January 7, 1885

George V. Hershey                                      born March 29, 1887

Lena Belle Hershey                                     born April 11, 1890

Minnie May Hershey                                   born June 16, 1893

One child born and died between 1884 and 1900

Only three of their five children lived to reach adulthood.  George died at only four months old, on July 27, 1887.  Jere died seven months after the death of his mother, on July 27 1899.  He was 14 years old.  They also had another child, who was born and died between 1884 and 1900.

Charles and Laura and their children moved to Arkansas around 1898. 

Laura Belle Swift Hershey died on January 1, 1899 in either Illinois or Arkansas.  She was 32 years old at her death.

In 1900, Charles and his daughters, Lena and Minnie, were living in Lick Mountain, Conway County, Arkansas.  Charles was working as a teacher at that time.

Charles remarried on June 30, 1901 in Conway County, Arkansas.  He married Laura Gordon, a widow with two daughters. 

In 1910, Charles and Laura were living and working on a farm on Damascus Road in Walker, Faulkner County, Arkansas.  Also listed in their household were their three unmarried daughters: Lena and Minnie Hershey, and Ruby Gordon.

Charles and Laura separated sometime after 1910.  In 1930 and 1940, Charles was living with his married daughter, Minnie Jones, and her family.  Their home was in Craig, Van Buren County, Arkansas.

Charles W. Hershey died on January 11, 1945 in Van Buren County, Arkansas.  He was laid to rest near his son, Jere, in the Culpepper Cemetery in Culpepper, Van Buren County, Arkansas.  Charles was 91 years old at his death.

The following is an excerpt from the “Van Buren County Democrat,” Jan. 19, 1945:

Charles W Hershey, aged 91 years, died at the home of son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Allen Jones near Scotland Saturday, Jan. 13. Interment took place at the cemetery on Culpepper Mountain Sunday afternoon, funeral services being conducted by the Rev A. A. Noggles.

Mr. Hershey was a native of Illinois but came to Van Buren County about 47 years ago, settling on Culpepper Mountain. For about a half-century he devoted his time to school teaching. In his young manhood he was united in marriage to Miss Laura Swift. To their union five children were born and only one of whom, Mrs. Jones, now survives. The wife and mother passed away a good many years since. Mr. Hershey united with the Methodist Church when very young and his life worthily testified in the faith he professed. 

Notes for Charles W. Hershey

Birth & Death:  “Charles W Hershey,” Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

(http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi) Accessed 23 April 2015

1860 US Census:  “Charles Hershey,” Year: 1860; Census Place: Wabash, Wabash, Illinois; Roll: M653_234; Page: 13; Image: 13; Family History Library Film: 803234.  Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

1870 US Census:  “Charles Hershey,” Year: 1870; Census Place: Wabash, Wabash, Illinois; Roll: M593_286; Page: 509A; Image: 221; Family History Library Film: 545785.  Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

1880 US Census:  “Charles Hershey,” Year: 1880; Census Place: Wabash, Wabash, Illinois; Roll: 256; Family History Film: 1254256; Page: 35B; Enumeration District: 123; Image: 0074.  Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. 

Marriage to Laura Swift:  “Tuttle Family Tree,” Ancestry.com, (http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/6088424/person/-1073346800) accessed on 23 April 2015

1900 US Census:  “Charles W Hershey,” Year: 1900; Census Place: Lick Mountain, Conway, Arkansas; Roll: 55; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 0008; FHL microfilm: 1240055. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

1910 US Census:  “Charley W Hershey,” Year: 1910; Census Place: Walker, Faulkner, Arkansas; Roll: T624_49; Page: 15A; Enumeration District:0025; FHL microfilm: 1374062.  Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.

1930 US Census:  “Charles W Hershey,” Year: 1930; Census Place: Craig, Van Buren, Arkansas; Roll: 97; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0009; Image: 101.0; FHL microfilm: 2339832.  Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.

1940 US Census:  “Charles W Hershey,” Year: 1940; Census Place: Craig, Van Buren, Arkansas; Roll: T627_178; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 71-9.  Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

Obituary:  “Charles W Hershey,” Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

(http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi) Accessed 23 April 2015

Notes for Charles Jeremiah Hershey

Birth & Death:  “Jeremiah Hershey,” Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

(http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi) Accessed 23 April 2015

Notes for George V. Hershey

Birth & Death:  “Tuttle Family Tree,” Ancestry.com, (http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/6088424/person/-1073346800) accessed on 23 April 2015

Notes for Laura Virginia Hanna

Birth & Death:  “Laura Virginia Hershey,” Ancestry.com. Texas, Death Certificates, 1903–1982 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

1870 US Census:  “Laura Hanna,” Year: 1870; Census Place: Union, Conway, Arkansas; Roll: M593_50; Page: 82B; Image: 459; Family History Library Film: 545549.  Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

1880 US Census:  “Laura Hannah,” Year: 1880; Census Place: Hamilton, Conway, Arkansas; Roll: 41; Family History Film: 1254041; Page:294B; Enumeration District: 038; Image: 0333.  Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. 

Marriage to Robert:  “Laura Hanna,” Ancestry.com. Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

1900 US Census:  “Laura Gordon,” Year: 1900; Census Place: Morrilton, Conway, Arkansas; Roll: 55; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 0016; FHL microfilm: 1240055.  Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

Marriage to Charles:  “Laura Gordon,” Ancestry.com. Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

1910 US Census:  “Charley W Hershey,” Year: 1910; Census Place: Walker, Faulkner, Arkansas; Roll: T624_49; Page: 15A; Enumeration District:0025; FHL microfilm: 1374062.  Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.

City Directories:  “Laura V. Hershey,” Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

1940 US Census:  “Laura Hershey,” Year: 1940; Census Place: Dallas, Dallas, Texas; Roll: T627_4175; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 255-78.  Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.