Elmer C. Byrum

  General Notes:

In a Feb 21, 2008 phone call from Barbara R. Sterling, grand daughter to Ester V. Keil:
Big ole country boy ... smelled like a cigar ... grieved over Ester's death, got drunk and killed himself ... couldn't live without her.
Rosehill Cemetery, Hagerstown, Maryland.

The Frederick News Post dated May 3, 1954 records "Elmer Byrum had been despondent since wife's death" ... see research notes. Esther had passed away April 13, 1954 and apparently Elmer did not want to go on without her. He had lived with his mother most of his life and had married Esther in 1945 [see marriage notes for surname transcription errors]. His mom had passed away in March of 1946 and he was despondent after Esther's death. The Washington County [Maryland] Free Library references an obituary for Elmer Byrum, age 51, dated May 3, 1954.

This researcher has found 2 Elmer Byrums living in Hagerstown, Maryland during the time period Esther was living there. One was born ca 1903 and the other ca 1884. The census records below follow both; however, the one born ca 1903 is the individual to whom Esther was married.

The 1920 Federal Census for Beaver Creek, Washington Co., Maryland, District 187, page 208A, dated January 30, 1920 records Elmer C. Byrum (17 - Maryland) living with his parents Charles (66 - Maryland/Maryland/Maryland) and Effie (47 - Maryland/Maryland/Maryland) Byrum and sister Mary C. Byrum (14).

The 1930 Federal Census for, Hagerstown Washington Co., Maryland, District 11, page 101B, dated April 30, 1930 records Elmer Byrum (28 - Maryland) with his wife Alice (22) living at 937 South Potomac Street. Elmer is a Laborer in Build Construction and has been married to Alice for 5 years.

The 1940 Federal Census for Hagerstown, Washington Co., Maryland, District 22-27, page 357A, dated 1940 records Elmer Byrum (37 - Maryland) with his widowed mother, Effie Byrum (68 - Maryland) renting an apartment at 124 East Avenuefor $12 / month.

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The 1930 Federal Census for Hagerstown, Washington Co., Maryland, District 8, page 22A records Elmer B. (49 - MD/MD/MD) and Dora G. (42 - MD/MD/MD) Byrum living at 337 West Washington Street. Elmer is a Barber and has been married to Dora for 21 years. There is another Elmer Byrum in the Hagerstown census record for District 11, page 101B: Elmer (28 - MD/MD/MD) and Alice (22 - MD/MD/MD) Byrum renting at 937 South Potomac Street. They have been married for 4 years. Elmer is a laborer in Building Construction.

To follow up these individuals:
The 1920 Federal Census for Hagerstown, Washington Co., Maryland, District 154, page 70A records Elmer B. (34 - MD/MD/MD) and Dora G. (31 - MD/MD/MD) Byrum living at 337 West Washington Street. Elmer is a Barber. The "other" Elmer Byrun is most likely the son of Charles and Ellen Byrum: Beaver Creek District 187 records Elmer Byrum (17) living with his parents Charles (66) and Effie M. (41) Byrum and sibling Mary C. (14). The family is indexed as Bycum at ancestry.com.

The 1910 Federal Census for Hagerstown, Washington Co., Maryland, District 145, page 97B records Elmer Byrum (indexed as L Emer Byrun at ancestry.com) (25 - PA/PA/PA) and Dora G. Byrum (22 - MD/MD/MD) living at 27 Antietam Street. Elmer and Dora have been married for 6 months. Elmer is a Barber. The "other" Elmer Byrun is listed in Election District 16 of Washington Co., Maryland, District 139 : Elmer C. Byrum (8) is living with his parents Charles B. (54) and Effie M. (37) Byrum and sister Mary C. (3). This is the 2nd marriage for Charles and 1st for Effie. The family is indexed as Byman at www.ancestry.com.

For reference purposes: The 1900 Federal Census for Beaver Creek, Washington Co., Maryland, District 82 records Charles B. (Aug 1853 - PA/PA/MD) and Effie M. (?? - MD/MD/MD) Byrum married for 6 years. A son, Jacob H. Byrum (Jan 1882 - MD) is listed and obviously from another marriage. The family is indexed as Byrem at ancestry.com/

WWI Draft: Elmer O. Byrem born Nov 3, 1882 living at 337 W. Washington St.
WWII Draft: Elmer O. Byurm born Nov 30, 1882 in Waynesboro, PA currently living at 337 W. Washington St.

  Research Notes:

The Frederick News Post dated May 3, 1954 records
MAN KILLS HIMSELF NEAR BOONSBORO
Elmer Byrum, Hagerstown, Had Been Despondent Since His Wife's Death
Boonsboro, May 2 - A 51 year-old Hagerstown man, despondent over the death of his wife two weeks ago, killed himself with a shotgun Saturday, just after his car left the road near here and came to a stop against a utility pole.
Relatives in the car with Elmer Byrum told State Trooper Glenn L. Bowman that Byrum jumped out of the car, said "I'm going to kill myself," and grabbed a shot from the car, strode 20 or 30 feet away, put the muzzle of the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger with his thumb.
Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Gilbert, of Boonsboro, said they had difficulty getting out of the car and still were in it when the gun went off. Mrs. Gilbert is Byrum's niece.
Trooper Bowman said the car had been traveling along State Route 669, three miles west of here when it failed to complete a sharp right turn and went off the left side of the road down a slight embankment.
He said Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert, with whom Byrum had been living, said he had been talking suicide since his wife's death. Byrum was a foundry worker.

Elmer married Esther Victoria Keil, daughter of David A. Keil and Missouri Cramer/Creamer, on 23 Feb 1945 in Hagerstown, Maryland. (Esther Victoria Keil was born on 6 Jun 1892 in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co., PA, died on 13 Apr 1954 in Hagerstown, Washington Co., Maryland and was buried in Mechanicsburg Cemetery, Mechanicsburg, PA. (Plot L1-3).)

  Marriage Notes:

The Washington County Free Library
http://www.washcolibrary.org/localhistory/genealogy.asp
Records the 1945 marriage of Esther Fory (sic) to Elmer Byrem (sic) on Page 84164
The actual certificate indicates they were married on February 23, 1945 by F. Berry Plummer, Pastor at at St. Paul's U. B. Church.