He was known as a "rounder" (meaning he liked women) and afterwitnessi ng the rocky relationship between their parents because ofhis behavior , the children vowed to remain faithful to their ownspouses and in fac t, all did.
Ansel, as a tenant farmer, lived on the farm wherever he was working,w hich resulted in the family moving often.
Residences & events in his life:
1892 Moultrie Co, IL. He and Kate lived in a house on the Burt Seassf arm where their 2 oldest daughters were married.
1896 Moultrie Co, IL. They had moved to the Bolin farm by the timeth eir first son was born.
6/20/1900 Sullivan Twp, Moultrie Co, IL. In the census that sameyear , Ansell, 29, was a farmer with pregnant wife, Catherine, 26.They were w aiting for the birth of their last child which, accordingto relatives, w as born on the Wright farm. Current children wereEdna, 8, Ella, 5, an d Earl, 3. Cousin, Jesse Powell, 26, was countedthere as well as hire d man, Irvin Hand, 33, both farm laborers.
3/17/1904 Sullivan. Ansell sold the lot at T4, Lewis' addition, blk3 , to his mother, Elizabeth O Powell by warranty deed for $500.Co-owner s were William and Genie Powell.
6/13/1904 Ansell bought property at NW S1 T13 R5 from John andSurilda C I ngle by warrenty deed for $1600.
1909 Peoria, IL.
4/15/1910 Sullivan City, Moultrie Co, IL. Where was Ansel that yearat census time? Katie, 37, was head of the house, married 19 yearswith 4 c hildren, all living. At home were Ella, 15, Earle N, 12, andJoseph G, 8 . Katie was cashier in a dry goods store, Earl was agrocery delivery boy.
1910/1911 Moultrie Co, IL. They were back at the Seass property andKate still worked at the Sullivan Dry Goods store until shortly beforeshe died.
Bef 1918 Mattoon, Coles Co, IL. Widowed sister, Mary Dunkin, came tolive with the family because she was too sick to care for herself andhad a child. She died within 5 months and the child was moved to thehome of brother William Moses Powell.
1/24/1920 Mattoon, IL, Richmond & Prairie Ave area. Listed in thecensus as AP, 49, fireman on the railroad, with second wife, Jennie,49 and children Joe, 19, railroad baggageman, daughter "Anna"(actually Ella ), 24, and her husband Ferris Michael, also 24, commonlaborer. Ferris was listed as son-in-law but he was also Jennie'sson.
Daughter Edna told the 1920 census taker her father was born in MO.
His death occured at the home of son, Earl, where he had been stayingthe last several months, on a Wednesday at 7 PM after battlingBright's disease for 18 mo.
The funeral was held at the First Christian Church in Sullivan withRev C E Barnett in charge. Pallbearers were: Roy Seaman, CN Walker,Joseph W elch, Harley Wood, Dean Pickle, and WS Elder.
