It started, as good quests always do, with a family tale.
George W Faulkner (
Harrison H, Robert, Samuel, William) was born in Cass Co, Michigan September 1st 1869, to parents Harrison Horton Faulkner and Alvina Akerly.
George married (1)
Vinnie Reist (
1876-1944) in Eden, Mason Co, MI February 1st 1893. He married (2)
UNK (
?-1918) about 1912 whereabouts unknown. He married (3)
Bertha Merritt (
1889-?) in Grand Rapids, MI September 21st 1920. He married (4)
Anna Boom (
1869-1933) in Grand Rapids, Kent Co, MI on April 27th 1922. He married (5)
Dena H Speer (
1883-1961) in Elkhart Co, IN January 25th 1934.
George and Vinnie had six children:
all born Mason Co, MI
- Florence Edith Faulkner b. 12 Nov 1893 d. 21 Jul 1916
- Gladys Faulkner b. 1 May 1897 d. 1 Nov 1947 m. (1) Howard C Bright (2) Norman L Dewar
- Pearl Ruth Faulkner b. Apr 1900 d. 1966 m. Glen H Tossey
- Clifford Raymond Faulkner b. 27 May 1905 d. 20 Nov 1951 m. Agnes C Denhof
- Willard R Faulkner b. 7 Feb 1910 d. 30 May 1976 m. Gertrude Veltmann
- George Lyle Faulkner b. 1 Oct 1912 d. 6 Nov 1975 never married *
George had several professions in his lifetime. He was a railroad conductor during the time his children were young. Later he was a farmer and eventually became a salesman in the real estate industry.
George had trouble staying married. He claimed to have divorced Vinnie, wife #1, in 1911 which brings up the question of paternity with son George Lyle. He married briefly wife #2, who is as yet nameless and supposedly died in 1918 (according to George). George married for a third time Bertha Merritt a woman 20 years his junior. George and Bertha divorced four months later in January of 1921. George married a fourth time widow Anna (Boom) Tazlaar. They stayed married until Anna's death in 1933. George tried again, marrying for the fifth time widow Dena H (Speer) Stem. They remained married until George's death.
Vinnie herself was remarried twice. First in 1924 to David Sturtevant who deserted her shortly after the marriage. Vinnie filed for divorce in May 1926 and married again in June 1926 to Frank E Harkness. They remained married until Vinnie's death.
George W Faulkner died May 15th 1940 and is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Marion, Osceola Co, MI with his daughter Florence.
Vinnie Reist Faulkner Sturtevant Harkness died Jan 25 1944 and is buried in the Oakwood Cemetery in Muskegon, Muskegon Co, MI alongside her husband Frank Harkness.
Anyone with further information on George W Faulkner is encouraged to contact me.
©2018 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved