34792. Cynthia Melissa Blackmer
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Cynthia Blackmer was born Dec. 13, 1865 in Saline, daughter of Charles M. Blackmer. She died Aug. 12, 1946. She was married to Will Adelbert Farmer on May 10, 1885.
Will and Cynthia Blackmer Farmer had five children. (1) Willy Belle, later "Willabelle" Farmer (Carr), b. Nov. 27, 1887 in Milan, Ohio. (2) Frank Blackmer Farmer, b. Nov. 27, 1889 in Milan, Ohio. (3) Ruth Cynthia Farmer, b. Jan. 10, 1902 in Toledo, OH. (4) Grace Maurine Farmer (Schultz), b. March 28, 1904 in Fowlerville, Mi. (5) Alice Merritt Farmer (Fulkerson), b. June 23, 1906 in Fowlerville.
In 1918, Cynthia Farmer took her family and moved from Fowlerville to Milan. Cynthia and her children moved into the red brick Blackmer home on E. Main. She went to work for Dr. Kenneth Noble, her brother-in-law. Cynthia's husband was not living with the family. The worldwide influenze pandemic was causing widespread illness and death at that time. Cynthia worked as a home health nurse in Milan.
From 1920-1931, Cynthia Farmer worked at the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Milan. She worked mostly full time, but some part time. Her first day at work was Aug. 27, 1920. She received her first paycheck Aug. 31, $8. At the end of Sept., she received pay for one month, $60. By the end of the year her salary was $70 per month. On Oct. 1, 1921 her monthly pay was $90. Her records say she quit Sept. 20, 1930, and she wrote "I was there 10 years and one month." When she quit, the Great Depression was in full swing. Shortly after she quit, the bank dissolved. On May 23, 1931, Farmers and Merchants Bank merged with Milan State Savings Bank on Wabash Street, and the combined bank took a new name: Peoples State Bank of Milan.
newspaper clipping in the Genealogist Friend at Milan Public Library
Edd W. Blackmer was born Dec. 4, 1870 and died Dec. 4, 1927, right after celebrating his birthday. His parents were Charles M. Blackmer and Emily Webb Blackmer. He was the 4th of 10 children. He had an unusual first name, but so did some of his brothers and sisters.
Edd married Martha Tripp on April 24, 1894. She sometimes went by the nickname "Mattie." They had three children: T. Waldo Blackmer, Edwyna Blackmer Wilford, and Miss Kathryn Blackmer Forsythe. (Obit)
Edd sold furniture in the store next to his father's undertaking parlor, then took over the undertaking business after his father. He served as a Milan Village President at one time, and served as treasurer for either York or Milan Township at one time.
Edd Blackmer served as chairman of the board at Peoples Presbyterian Church. He served more than 20 years on the Board of Education and worked tirelessly to have a school built. He belonged to the Masonic Temple in Milan, along with the Kngihts of Pythias, and the local camp of Modern Woodmen of America. He was active in organizations for funeral directors. Numerous undertakers from all over the state attended his funeral. The schools and businesses all closed on the afternoon of his funeral.
W. De Vere Blackmer was born May 8, 1887, son of Charles and Emily Blackmer. He died June 18, 1974 [at Saline Community Hospital, although he was a resident of Milan.]
He married Hazel Conner Feb. 26, 1913. They had one son, Charles D. Blackmer who died Nov. 2, 1966 at the age of 52.
W. De Vere Blackmer became a partner in the Claude R. Chapin Department Store in Milan. In 1933 he went to Clinton to become manager of a C. F. Smith Store there. In 1943 he returned to Milan to manage the Milan C. F. Smith store, left vacant by the death of his brother Webb. He retired from this store in 1858.
Hazel passed away Nov. 17, 1954. On Oct. 7, 1961 he married Theresa O'Brien. In 1960, at the age of 73, he was employed as custodian of the Milan Post office until 1971, when he again retired.
Source: "Ancient and Modern Milan" by Arleigh Squires.