Willard (Gravy) Sasher Massie Sr. ¹⁵⁵

   Cause of his death was Ventricular / Auricular Fibrillation, generalized arteriosclerosis.

   Another name for Willard was Gravy.

  General Notes:

Bob Hill, son of Robert and Mary Alice Melvin Massie, believes Robert's father was named Grady. He is believed to be from Coal Grove, Lawrence Co., Ohio / Ashland, Boyd Co., Kentucky area.
... this researcher was contacted by Carol Nouse of Lawrence Co., Ohio in February 2010 and she indicates he was always called Gravy [Not Grady!]. She is not sure why.

Probably born a Haskins and took the name of Massie, his adoptive parents. See general notes on Gravy's adoptive father ... Denison Massie. According to Carol Nourse, Willard's father was actually Joseph Haskins who was the brother of Nancy Ann Haskins, wife of Denison Massie.

Bob Hill remembers: He was a policeman in Ashland, Kentucky ... he was alive as of 1938 ...

According to Carol Nouse (see above), Gravy became a bodyguard for a local shady character, Dustin "Ducky" Corn ... see research notes for information on "Ducky".

The facts as found:
Legal documents such as a marriage certificate and draft registration have Willard's surname as Haskins, yet he gives his name as Massie on census records and directories.

See general notes on Denison Massie for the 1880 census record.

The 1900 Federal Census for Upper Township, Lawrence Co., Ohio (ED# 83, page 88B) records Willard S. (Nov 1874) and Anna W. (Oct 1876) Massie living at 30 3rd Street with children Hazel M. (Oct 1898) and Willard S. (Aug 1899). Willard is a Bar Tender.

The 1910 Federal Census for Ironton, Lawrence Co., Ohio (ED# 99, page 135B) records Williard (33 - Ohio/Ohio/Ohio) and Anna (31 - Ohio/Ohio/PA) Massie living at 238 Buckhorn St. with children Willard Jr. (10), Gordon (2), and Earl (2/12). Also in the household is William Chamber (80). He is listed as a widowed grandfather-in-law born in Ireland. Next door at 236 Buckhorn is the widow Mary Haley (56) with sons Clarence (28) and Samuel (21). Mary is Williard's mother-in-law. Next door to Mary Haley at 234 Buckhorn is her widowed sister-in-law Mary A. Hogan (56 - Ohio/Ireland/Ireland) and children who was married to Mary's brother, James Hogan. Willard is a City Policeman and has been married to Anna for 14 years. They have had 4 children of whom 3 are still living.

The WWI Draft Registration Card for Willard Sasher Haskins dated September 12, 1918 lists his date of birth as 29 Nov 1875. He is living at 722 Buckhorn Street, Ironton, Lawrence Co., Ohio and is working as an Electrician for the Sackett Mining and Supply Co. He is married to Anna Haskins and his physical description is medium in height and stout build with brown eyes and dark hair.

The 1920 and 1930 Federal Census continues to list this family living at 722 Buckhorn Street in Ironton with the addition of a son, Robert: The 1920 Federal Census for Ironton Ward 1, Lawrence Co., Ohio, District 113, page 155A, dated January 12, 1920, records Williard (40 - OH/OH/OH) and Anna (39 - OH/OH/PA) Massie with children Willard Jr. (20), Gordon (12), Earl (10), and Robert (3 7/12) living at 722 Buckhorn Street. Willard is a Dectective with Business Hours.
The 1930 Federal Census for Ironton Ward 1, Lawrence Co., Ohio, District 20, page 92A, records Williard (51 - OH/OH/OH) and Anna (48 - OH/OH/PA) Massie with children Willard (28), Gordon (22), Earl (20), and Robert (13) living at 722 Buckhorn Street. Also in the household is Wilard borth-in-law Sam Hailey (40). Willard has no occupartion while Willard Jr and Gordon work in the Steel Mill, Earl is an Electrician's Helper and Sam is an Ironworker in Construction.
The 1930 Federal Census for Ironton, 1st Ward, Upper Township, Lawrence Co., Ohio, District 20, page 92A, dated April 2, 1930, records Williard (51) and Anna (48) Massie with children Williard (28), Gordon (22), Earl (20), and Robert (13). Sons Williard and Gordon are steel workers while Earl is an electrician's helper. Also in the household is brother-in-law Sam Hailey (40), an ironworker who is single. Two doors down are first cousins to Anna Hailey Massie, Mary (48), Mattie (42), Frank (41), and Charles (38) Hogan, all single, living at 718 Buckhorn Street. Mary is a Forelady at a Cigar Factory, Frank is an Assistent Undertaker, and Charles is a Truck Driver for an Ice Plant.

The 1940 Federal Census for Ashland, Boyd Co., KY, District 10-17, page 270A, dated April 2, 1940 records Willard (64 - OH) with his new wife Margaret (56 - OH) and sons Gordon Massie (32 - OH) and Robert Massie (23 - OH) renting a place at 134 1/2 17th Street for $14 / month. Also in the house is Gordon's wife, Evelyn (31 - KY), and their children Billy Gordon Massie (10 - KY), Joretta Genne (9 - KY), and Ann Mae Massie (6 - OH) as well as Willard's brother-in-law, Samuel Hailey (45 - OH) who is divorced. Samuel is Willards' 1st wife's brother. On April 1, 1935, Willard and Margaret as well as Samuel were living in this same house while Gordon and his family were living in Ironton. Robert was living in Norfolk, VA. Willard, Gordon, Evelyn, and Robert have completed 4 years of high school while Samuel 8 years of grade school. Willard is employed as a Bar Tender in a Saloon earning $600 working just 32 weeks during the last year; Gordon is employed as an Insole Tacker in a Shoe Factory earning $550 working just 26 weeks during the last year; Evelyn is employed as a Hand Worker in a Shoe Factory earning $200 working just 12 weeks during the last year; Robert is employed as a Truck Driver for a Dairy Business earning $875 working 35 weeks during the last year; Samuel is employed as a Watchman for Business Houses earning $0 and working 0 weeks during the last year.





The 1870 Federal Census for Ironton records a William Chamber (35-Ireland) with wife Mary (46-Ireland) (both immigrants from Ireland in 1850) and children Mary (21), James (18), Eliza (14), and William (9). All children are born in Ohio. There is a Lawrence Co. marriage Index record that indicates William Chambers and Mary Hogan were married around 1861. That means that Anna Hailey's mother is probably a Hogan not a Chambers. The 1860 Federal Census for Upper Township, Lawrence Co. records Mary Hogan (40- Widow - Irish birth) with children Mary (10), James (8), and Eliza Jane (4). This census also records William Chambers as single in the same area. This with the 1870 census confirms that William Chambers marries Mary Hogan who has three children: Mary, James, and Eliza at the time of their marriage. The forth child, William, is probably the son of William Chambers.

A Lawrence County Marriage Index records a Willard Haskins marrying Anna Hailey about 1896. The 1880 Federal Census for Mason Township, Lawrence Co., Ohio records a Williard Williams (4-servant) in the household of Denison and Nancy Massie. It should be noted that Nancy Massie's maiden name is Haskins (married to Denison Massie in Aug 12, 1858-Lawrence Co.). Bob Hill's family tells the story that his grandfather Willard was a Haskins, adopted by the Massies after his parents were murdered by a farm hand. Research indicates that the "after his parents were murdered by a farm hand" story actually refers to Willard's adoptive mother, Nancy Haskins Massie and two of her children, Robert and Mary ... see general notes for Denison Massie for full details.

Births records for Lawrence Co., Ohio records Willard, Gordon, and Earl Massie as children of Willard Massie and Anna Ha(i)ley. Willard's marriage license and Draft Registration Card list his surname as Haskins while census records records Massie. Willard might have been "legally" a "Haskins" and adopted the name "Massie" for the family that raised him.

Numerous newspaper articles of May 1914 describe the brutal murder of Nancy Massie (76) and son, Robert (48), and daughter, Mary (42), by a disgruntle farm hand, Harley Beard. Harley was tried and convicted of the murders and executed in Dec. 1914. Willard named his next child for the adopted brother, Robert Massie, that died in the rampage.
See general notes on Denison Massie for a detailed narrative ...

  Research Notes:

Several web postings included a few notes on "Ducky": Dustin Corn A.K.A. Ducky Corn was a wealthy man who wore white shoes and a white hat, owned the Ritzy Rae Club, later changed it to Club Continental, and owned The Plantation club in South Point where some gambling might have been involved. His house was named Grey Gables and across the road he owned Mary Dustin Stables, named after his beloved wife. He also owned a house on 4th and Wynoke where his mistress resided. He ran a gambling casino, but they got him on tax evasion, sentenced to 11 years. He supposedly did the Bunny Hop in the court room, his friends followed, but he was escorted back in. His Doctor got him probation because of his heart problem. He later opened a car lot selling all of his own Cadillacs.
From findagrave.com: Dustin Corn was born Aug. 3, 1906 and died Jan. 15, 1969. He was married to Mary F. Corn in 1942. She was born Aug. 18, 1913 and died Nov. 21, 1990. They are buried in Woodland Cemetery, Ironton, Lawrence County, Ohio.


Obituary for Rose Mary Hummel
Nov. 29, 1920-Sept. 1, 2004

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. - Rose Mary Corn Hummel, 83, of Noblesville, formerly of Ironton, Ohio, died Wednesday at Riverwalk Village in Noblesville.
ntbl The Ironton native was born Nov. 29, 1920, the daughter of William E. and Minnie Mary Gruber Corn. She was the wife of Pearl Emerson Hummel, deceased. She was a homemaker and a member of the White River Christian Church and the Noblesville Senior Citizens.

She also was preceded in death by three sisters, Crystal Belcher, Carole Virginia Corn and Estelle Apel; and five brothers, Harold Corn, Paul Corn, Dovel Corn, Dustin Corn and Fred Corn.
Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Roben and Tom Gang of Noblesville; two grandsons, Adam Gang of Little Rock, Ark., Matt Gang and fiancee Molly Shinkel of Indianapolis; one granddaughter, Lorna Kae Gooding and husband, Mark, of Alexandria; and two great-grandchildren, Miles Emerson and Allen Michael Gooding.

Funeral will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Tracy Brammer Funeral Home, with Dr. Wayne Young officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery. Visitation will be after 9 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

  Medical Notes:

http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch
Name: Willard Massie
Titles:
Death date: 19 Jun 1952
Death place: Ironton, Lawrence, Ohio, United States
Cause of Death: Ventricular Fibrillation / Aricular Fibrillation / Generalized Arterio Cross
Birth date: 29 Nov 1875
Estimated birth year:
Birth place: Greasy Ridge
Age at death: 77 years 6 months 20 days
Gender: Male
Marital status: married
Race or color: Caucasian
Street address: 809 Pike Street
Occupation: Retired Clerk for a Pool Room
Residence: Coal Grove, Lawrence Co., Ohio
Burial date: June 21, 1952
Cemetery name: Woodland Cemetery, Iornton, Lawrence Co., Ohio
Informant: Mrs. Margaret Massie
Spouse name:
Father name:
Father titles: don't know
Father birth place:
Mother name:
Mother titles: don't know
Mother birth place:
GSU film number: 2246299
Digital GS number: 4109424
Image number: 01650
Reference number: 39706
Collection: Ohio Deaths 1908-1953

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Bar Tender (1900) / City Policeman (1910) / Detective (1920) / Police Work (1930).

Willard married Anna Winifred Hailey, daughter of Henry P Hailey and Mary Hogan, about 1896 in Lawrence Co., Ohio. (Anna Winifred Hailey was born on 24 Oct 1876 in Ironton, Lawrence Co., Ohio, died on 3 Oct 1932 in Circleville, Pickaway Co., Ohio and was buried on 6 Oct 1932 in Woodlawn Cemetery, Ironton, Lawrence Co., Ohio.) The cause of her death was Shock due to multiple fractures of both legs, one arm, scalp wound. Accident in public place. Struck by an automobile.