Tags
Bostick Stove Works, Carter, Crawford County, Everdon, Garden City, Hayhow, Indiana, Jennings, LaFrance, Lansing, Lapeer, Michigan, nurse, Oakland County, Sanford White Carter, telephone operator, Traverse City State Hospital, Wayne County
Aunt Emma Fern Everdon Carter - Circa 1923
Emma Fern Everdon was born to Samuel A. Everdon, a farmer, and Flora Bell Forbes on October 7, 1901, in Crawford County, Indiana. Fern was the youngest of four Everdon children: William Clyde, born 1890; Cora Blanche, born 1893; Geneva, born 1895, and Emma Fern, born 1901. In 1910, the entire family lived on the Everdon Farm on Leavenworth-Makings Road in Jennings, Crawford County.
On April 28, 1915, Fern’s sister Cora Blanche married Floyd W. Schoch, an attendant at the Michigan Home in Lapeer. Floyd Schoch died in 1916 and is buried in Oakland County. On August 15, 1919, Cora Blanche Everdon Schock, then listed as a nurse, married Fred H. Abbey, a bookkeeper, in Detroit. Fred Abbey had also been married once before. The next year, the couple was living in Lapeer,
On December 24, 1919, William Clyde, a rubber worker, married Cordie Alice Watts in Hamilton County, Ohio. The next year, Clyde and Cordie were both living in Elba, Lapeer County.
In 1920, both Fern and her sister Geneva lived on their father’s farm and worked as telephone operators. On June 18, 1921, Fern’s sister Geneva, then a nurse, married farmer Francis McDonald in Lapeer. Fern served as one of the witnesses.
Aunt Fern and Aunt Winifred Carter - circa 1923
Emma Fern Everdon married Sanford White Carter, a nickel plater, on October 15, 1921 in Lapeer, Michigan. Their witnesses were Ester Swartzkopf, the wife of the paster, and Neva Fisher. The couple moved to Lansing for three years, but returned to Lapeer in March 1925, when Sanford got a job as a molder at the Bostick Stove Works. Sanford and Fern moved into 46 Turrill Avenue and often spent time with Sanford’s brother, Leon, and his family. According to photographs, Fern was particularly fond of spending time with her young niece, Winifred.
Around the end of May 1926, Sanford experienced abdominal pains and went to Lapeer City Hospital. There, he underwent “an operation for appendicitis,” which probably means that he had his appendix removed. While in the hospital, Sanford developed pneumonia, and on June 8, 1926, died.
After Sanford’s death, there is little evidence of Fern. By 1930, “Emma F. Carter, widow” was employed as an attendant at the Traverse City State Hospital in Traverse City, Michigan. Since her sister Geneva was a nurse in Lapeer, it is likely that Fern received similar training, and may have even worked at the Michigan State Home in Lapeer.
Sometime between 1930 and 1939, Fern Everdon remarried. She may have been married and had a son with someone with the last name of Hayhow. By 1939, Fern had married Thomas LaFrance, born September 10, 1909 in Michigan. The couple had at least three children, two daughters and a son. Fern died January 20, 1949, in Wayne County, Michigan. Thomas LaFrance died December 21, 1985, in Garden City, Wayne County, Michigan.
Line of Descent 
Hello, my name is Karen L. Everdon. Received a copy of this page on Emma Fern Everdon from my cousin Becky Everdon (currently residing in New Zealand). I have researched the entire Everdon family who lived in Crawford County, Indiana. The Samuel Everdon branch moved to Lapeer, Michigan. I have some genealogy charts I have done that I would be happy to send on as an e-mail attachment, My e-mail is keverdon@yahoo.com Would be happy to know anything more about this Everdon branch of family.
nice article about one of my relatives….
I actually have uncovered a little more information and need to update this article! And really all of these articles. It’s been far too long since I’ve had the free time. I really need to get on that…. Thank you all for reading!
Emma Fern Everdon is my mother but I was very young when she died I was 6 years old and would love to learn more about her family. I am the youngest daughter of her and Thomas Lee LaFrance. She was not married to a person named Hayhow that is the last name of my step mother and the son is hers
Karen
Hello to a fellow Karen
Thanks you so much for your contact. It is always so nice to hear from living relatives of the Everdon family I have been researching since 2001. I have lots of info on your line descending from Ira Everdon (b. 1797 in New York) via his son John Everdon- born 1832 in Switzerland County, Indiana (John was a brother to my great-great-grandfather Robert Henry Everdon- b.1835, Switzerland County, Indiana, d. 1863 in Nashville, Tennessee as result of wounds received at Battle of Stones River, Murfreesboro, TN during the Civil War). Ira Everdon lived in town of Nelson, New York, Madison County (in 1797 it was part of Chenango County). Ira’s father was John Everdon, and his mother was Elizabeth. In the 1820 census for Switzerland County, Indiana Mt. Sterling, Indiana, Jefferson Twp), Elizabeth was listed as head of household so her husband John had probbaly died after 1810 by 1820 (in 1800 and 1810 census, John Everdon was head of household in Nelson, New York so he probably died after 1810 by 1820 but unknown if he died in New York or in Indiana).
John Everdon’s son Samuel Everdon (b. 1856 in Crawford County, Indiana, died 1921 in Lapeer County, Michigan) would be your grandfather. I have compiled Everdon family charts that you might find useful. I could send them to you as attachments if you could email directly so that I have your email. My email is keverdon@yahoo.com
Again, glad to hear from you. I never could find where your mother Emma Fern Everdon Carter LaFrance was buried. I did find that she seems to have died in Eloise, Michigan in Wayne County. Was she a nurse or patient there at the hospital located in that town? I saw that the hospital did have their own burying ground, but burials seemed to have stopped shortly before your mother passed away. Just curious if you have any idea where she is buried or if she was cremated or what.
Would greatly appreciate a direct email from you.
Karen L. Everdon
northern Indiana
Hi Tegan:
I am so sorry I should not have ask you to meet me, please resend me the pictures of my mother I do not have any of her.
I am a follower of our GOD and would in no way harm you.
What can I send you so you will know that I am the daughter of Emma Fern Everdon and my father was Thomas Lee LaFrance.
I do work for my son in Fenton Michigan.
I would never ask you to do anything that would harm you.
Please Please re send pictures of my mother.
Thank You
Karen Matties