Emma Frances LOAR

  General Notes:

Photo Postcard: To date, this is my favorite photo of Emma (Loar) Gaddis, author-compiler of THE LOAR GENEALOGY. It appears on an original photo postcard dated 1909. Almost one hundred years later -- in 2008 -- the postcard was gifted to the ALLUM web site by Allum-Loar descendant Ruby Guessford Temple.

Sent by Emma from Beaver City, Nebraska -- her residence at that time -- the recipient was "Mrs. Lizzie Allum, Kellogg, Iowa." "Lizzie" was Elisabeth (Loar) Allum, 1840-1923, wife of John Supler Allum,1838-1921.

The back of the card, that can be seen on a different page in this online file, is postmarked "December 23" and bears a one cent postage stamp.

(On the postcard, Emma's photo measures only 2 inches by 2 3/4 inches. It is greatly enlarged here and has been carefully restored. --DeeAnna Allum Granston)


Original postcard photo gifted to ALLUM in 2008 by Ruby Guessford Temple
Photo restored by DeeAnna Allum Granston




Emma (Loar) Gaddis was the compiler of THE LOAR GENEALOGY in which she wrote about herself on pages 185-186 (see immediately below):


BOOK: THE LOAR GENEALOGY with Cognate Branches, 1774-1947, by Emma Loar Gaddis, Manson, Iowa, Edward Brothers, Inc. Ann Arbor Michigan, 1949, pages 185-186:


EMMA FRANCES LOAR (John, John, Jacob) the compiler of these records, born near Waynesburg, Greene Co., PA, April 23, 1861.

In 1868 her father sold his farm in Greene Co., and the family moved to a newly purchased one 12 miles south of Fairbury, Ill., where the subject of this sketch was reared to young womanhood.

She received her early education in the district school and her first teacher's certificate at the age of 17 yrs. She attended the high school at Colfax, Ill. but ill health prevented her from following the teaching profession, which was so desirable to her heart. It was not until she had obtained her third certificate that her happy vision came true.

On going to Manson, Ia., to visit her sister, Elizabeth (Loar) Long, she taught school and attended the State Normal College at Cedar Falls, Ia. Returning home, she taught her own home school, the Potosi, the Liberty, and for two yrs the primary room at Colfax, Ill. She loved teaching and followed this profession until se was married on June 18, 1890 to Alpheus Gaddis, a young father of that vicinity. He was born February 18, 1861.

They moved at once into a nice new cottage on his farm three miles south of Colfax. But, in two years, after having several attacks of la grippe, she was compelled to leave their cozy little nest and seek a western climate. Stopping to visit her brother, David Loar of Beaver City, Neb., she began to improve. Later her husband joined her, and they established their home there for thirty-eight yrs. he being the owner of the telephone business the greater part of the time.

Their home from the first was one of hospitality. Every visiting minister or Evangelist found "the Prophet's room" waiting for him. U. S. Senators, Representatives, ex-U.S. Foreign ministers, missionaries, and many of the nobility of the land, found a hearty welcome at their festal board.

Mrs. Gaddis loved the beautiful, and gave many lessons in painting. She also had many poems to her credit, some found their way into print. One was accepted on a $50 contest by the Bacon Publishing Co. of New York and was printed in their book "Christmas Lyrics of 1940," and another one, a $100 contest by the "Exposition Press" of New York. The publishing house sent this notice to her local paper, The Manson Journal. "From the Exposition Press, New York, Publishing house, poetry of Mrs. Emma Gaddis has been accepted for the 1940 edition of the World's Fair Anthology of Verse. Mrs .Gaddis' poem ' Camouflage ' also qualifies in the $100 poetry contest,as well as winning the coveted privilege of being among the select group chosen for representation in the World's Fair anthology."

She loved children and they loved her, yet none had the joy of calling her mother. Both she and her husband were interested in those desiring an education to fit themselves for life. They made it possible for many girls to go through high school by taking them into their home and caring for them. Others have been able to go through college by the "lift" received at their hands, while others, "whom having not seen yet loved," in China, India, Africa, have received schooling and religious training from these unknown friends. In religion they both were very active members of the Church of Christ, being charter members of the church organized in Beaver City, Neb., in 1893, where they both have held the highest offices that a church can bestow. She organized the Christian Women's Board of Missions in her home, and was one of the five district officers of the state of Neb. for 15 yrs. She was a teacher in the Sunday School most of her life and a leader in all religious and public works. She is eligible for membership in the D.A. R. through her mother (the White's side of the family.)

Mr. Gaddis passed away with heart trouble October 4, 1930 and was laid to rest in the Gaddis family lot at Colfax, Ill. Two yrs. after his death, Mrs. Gaddis went to make her home with her sister, Mrs. Ida Loar Williams, at Manson, Iowa.




1861 BIRTH of Emma Frances Loar

1868 MIGRATION with parents from Greene County, Pennsylvania to Livingston County, Illinois (in March)

1870 CENSUS, Illinois, Livingston County, Belle Prairie Township, P. O. Fairbury ("Emma," age 8, with parents)

1880 CENSUS, Illinois, Livingston County, Belle Prairie Township ("Emma F.," age 19, with parents)

1890 MARRIAGE of Emma Frances Loar and Alpheus Gaddis on June 18 in Livingston County, Illinois

1892 MOVE from Livingston County, Illinois to Furnas County, Nebraska

1898 DEATH of mother, Maria (White) Loar (in June)

1898 DEATH of father, John Loar (in October)

1900 CENSUS, Nebraska, Furnas County, Beaver City Precinct ("Alphius," age 39, born "February, 1861 in Ohio," occupation "Farmer") (wife "Emma F.," age 39, born "April, 1861 in Pennsylvania") (Emma is shown as the mother of 0 children; she and her husband had been married 10 years)

1910 CENSUS, Nebraska, Furnas County, Beaver Precinct, Beaver City ("Apheus," age 49, "Telephone, Telephone Office") (wife "Emma," age 49) (Emma is documented as the mother of 0 children; she and her husband had been married 19 years) ("Goddis" and "Godis" in some census indexes)

1920 CENSUS, Nebraska, Furnas County, Beaver Township, Beaver City ("Alpheus," age 58, "Electrician, Telephone") (wife "Emma F.," age 58)

1930 CENSUS, New Mexico, Sierra County, Hot Springs Village ("Alpheus," age 69, "Manager, Apartment house") (wife "Emma," age 69) (The couple is shown as having been married 27 years, but it would actually have been 30 years)

1930 DEATH of husband, Alpheus Gaddis, at 69 years 7 months 16 days

Cause of death: "Myocardial Insufficiency, contributory, Pneumonia" --death certificate

MOVE to Manson, Calhoun County, Iowa to be with sister, Ida Belle (Loar) Williams [Mrs. Sherman Williams]

1951 MOVE to Des Moines, Polk County, to the Ramsey Memorial Home

1956 DEATH, Emma Frances (Loar) Gaddis, at 95 years 1 months 8 days




DOCUMENT: State of Illinois death certificate No. 37977 for Alpheus Gaddis signed by his wife, "Mrs. Alpheus Gaddis"




OBITUARY (Emma) from an undocumented 1956 newspaper:


Rites Conducted At Manson for Mrs. Gaddis, 95

MANSON--Funeral services for Mrs. Emma Loar Gaddis, 95, were held Monday afternoon, July 2, in the Larson funeral home. Mrs. Gaddis was a former Manson resident and the last few years had been living at Ramsey Memorial home in Des Moines, where she died early Sunday morning [July 1].

The Rev. Ben Bobbett of Central Christian church in Des Moines, a former Sunday school pupil of Mrs. Gaddis, officiated at the service. He was assisted by the Rev. Harley E. Carbaugh, pastor of Grace Methodist church of Manson.

Mrs. Herman Freese and Mrs. Don Vetter sang with Mrs. Emma Hyde accompanying them on the piano.

Pallbearers were J. B. Campbell, O. F. Spangler, Elmer Rankin, Emory Bleam, Roger Bernd and Raymond Gingerich.

Burial was in Colfax, Ill. beside her husband, Alpheus Gaddis. Graveside rites were conducted by the minister of the Colfax Christian church.

Mrs. Gaddis was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Loar andwas born April 23, 1861 near Waynesburg, Pa. She came to Illinois with her parents in 1868, and lived there until her marriage to Alpheus Gaddis on June 18, 1890. In 189 Mr. and Mrs. Gaddis moved to Beaver City, Neb., on account of her health.

Mr. Gaddis died in 1930 and she moved to Manson to live with her siter, Mrs. S. R. Williams. In 1951 she moved to Ramsey Memorial home in Des Moines due to her ill health.

When a young girl she became a member of the Christian church and was faithful and active in church work all her life.

Survivors include her sister, Mrs. Williams of Manson, and other more distant relatives. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, six brothers and two sisters.

Emma married Alpheus GADDIS, son of Rees GADDIS and Martha Ann BENNETT, on June 18, 1890 in Livingston County, Illinois. (Alpheus GADDIS was born on February 18, 1861 in Tremont, Tazewell County, Illinois, died on October 4, 1930 in Colfax, Mclean County, Illinois and was buried on October 5, 1930 in Wiley Cemetery, Colfax, Mclean County, Illinois.)