Elsie was born 17 November 1900. Her mother, Lula, died in September of 1903. Elsie wasn't three yet and was the baby - the youngest of four - sisters Lois Wilma and Jessie; and brother Paige. Lois Wilma was 8, Jessie 5, and Paige was only 4. Edward remained a widower until he married Ida Mead on the 23rd of November of 1910. And Uncle Harry was born in 1912. Before Edward fell in love with and married Ida, those must have been some difficult years; but families gather close and Aunt Annie and Uncle Ern got to have Elsie. She became their only child and it was at Aunt Annie's and Uncle Ern's that the Renne and Cavanaugh cousins visited. The Cavanaugh Girls rode the big draft horses down to the creek with some difficulty. The Renne Girls rode, respectively, a horse, a cow, and a chicken. "When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
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Ancestry.com Images Online, image 16 of 26
1910 U.S. Census, District 163, Washington Township North part, Washington County, Indiana; 2 & 3 May 1910
Line 37: h/h 195/199
Earnest O. Purlee, Head, 36, M1 12 years, b. Indiana; parents b. Indiana, Farmer
Anna, Wife, 36, M1 12 years, b. Indiana; parents b. Ireland
Elsie Cavanaugh, Niece, 9, single, b. Indiana; parents b. Indiana, attended school
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Ancestry.com Images Online, image 8 of 26
1920 U.S. Census, Washington Township, Washington County, Indiana
10 Januarey 1920, Enumeration District no. 195/193, Sheet 4B
Canton Road, Line 56: Farm h/h 73
Ernest O. Purlee, Head, owns farm, 45, reads & writes, b. Indiana; parents b. Indiana; general farmer
Anna [nee Cavanaugh] Purlee, wife, 47, b. Indiana; parents b. Ireland
Elsie Cavanaugh, niece, 19, did not attend school, reads & writes, b. Indiana; parents b. Indiana
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Mrs. Elsie Thomas of Montgomery, Alabama was present at the funeral of her father Edward Cavanaugh. Edward b. 1 February 1868; d. 7 February 1947.