In mid-July of 1984 I managed to put together a chronological sequence of Akron City Directory data on Fay, Donna, and the fathers of Donna's children. Having found sufficient data to determine that Elmer had brothers and sisters, I tracked those I had discovered through the City Directory in order to determine if any might still be located, or perhaps to learn of a spouse. I did determine that Elmer had a brother named Floyd who lived in the Portage Lakes area. I called his number and talked with his wife, Florence. While she was sympathetic, she informed me that Floyd was ill and couldn't entertain company. She did, however, give me the number of Elmer's widow. I called her and introduced myself, explaining the reason for my interest. She accepted an invitation to meet, and we made plans.

Abbie and I drove down to the Canton apartment of Nellie, Elmer's widow, and visited her for about two hours, discussing Elmer's last few years,. some of Nellie's history, some events of Elmer and Donna's marriage. She gave me a photo of Elmer. She also gave me the addresses of his surviving siblings - sisters

Virginia Call of Akron, and Margaret Shultz of Norton. We thanked her for her help, suggesting she might hear from one or both of Elmer's daughters.

As we drove home I had the hollow feeling in my gut that she could have been the widow of my father I'd just talked to. I kind of felt out of place, that it should have been one of my sisters who had just talked to Nellie.

* * *

Born Elmer Jess Corbin at 8:00 A.M. on 24 February, 1913 to Jess W. and Anna Margaret Seeman-Corbin, Elmer was delivered by Dr. Albert Rowland at the parents' home at 374 West Exchange Street in Akron. The house is no longer standing.

Elmer was the third of six siblings: 3F#5.1 Florence Seemann, who married Albert Johnson; 3F#4.2 William Frederick Corbin, who married Ruth Green (see ERRATA, page 652-1); 3F#4.3 Elmer J. Corbin; 3F#4.4 Floyd Earl, who married Florence 'Birdie' Human; 3F#4.5 Virginia Mae, who married 1) Charles Henderson, by whom issue: Charles Henderson, Jr., Donna Carol Henderson, Eugene Darrell Henderson and Marlene Elaine Henderson; and 2) Reese Call; 3F#4.6 Margaret Viola, who married Glenn Shultz, by whom issue Darlene and Glenn, Jr.; and 3F#4.6 Glenn Arnold Corbin. As of this writing all siblings are deceased, except Virginia and Margaret.

* * *

According to the City Directory, Elmer lived at home with his widowed mother and several siblings at 1083 Florida Avenue in 1934. By 1937 they made their residence at 2026 Manchester Road. Elmer was working for the B & W Company. In 1938 Elmer was apparently sharing a residence at 535 Akins Court with his sister Margaret. Their mother died in October of 1939.

On Monday, the 10th of July, 1939, Elmer and Donna were making an application for a marriage license at Summit County Courthouse. They were married three days later on 13 July, 1939 by Rev. Franklin G. Markley at Main Street Methodist & Episcopal Church at South Main and Thornton Streets, in Donna's familiar south Akron. She brought with her into this pre-war marriage two sons, seven-year old Ronald Bosley and 16-month old Dallie Vernon. Elmer was 26 and Donna was 24. According to their application, he'd been married once (no wife living), and she twice.

The couple moved around. Elmer worked around. The City Directory listed him in 1938 as a laborer. On their marriage license application he was listed as a truck driver. On the day of their marriage, they lived at 87 West Crosier Street in south Akron, Donna's residence at the time of their application.

Patty Ann came along on 3 November, 1940, but her birth certificate, being a 'bureaucratized' adoption document, gives no residence of the family, except that she was delivered at City Hospital in East Akron.

As a diapered toddler, Dallie remembered needing clean undies and Donna went from the family's upstairs apartment to the basement to get one. Dallie decided he wanted a drink of water and couldn't reach the tap, so he went in search of mother, down the side stairway, naked. He stopped, and then retreated, when he saw two giggling girls walking up the side street paralleling the stairs. That apartment was at the southwest corner of Main Street and Voris. Dallie was all of two or three, perhaps 1941.

When Jacquie was born 11 May, 1942, the family lived at 885-1/2 South Main Street. There was 'The Swamps' out in Copley for one summer, where Donna, Elmer and all the kids but Ron lived. Ron was staying with Grandma. Then there was Bank Street, the little cottage behind the house. 1026 Meadow ('Meddy') Lane; Hillwood Homes projects on South Arlington Street; there was 1161-1/2 South Arlington Street, the bungalow in the back; then the upstairs apartment in Sawyerwood; finally, Van Evera Road in Tallmadge, summer of '45.

On Tuesday, 20 November, 1945, two days before Thanksgiving, the Summit County Sheriff's Department put Elmer and Donna in Jail on a complaint of child neglect. The four kids were placed in the County Children's Home.

According to some, Donna was gotten out of jail after a week or two. Others said she was out in two or three days. Pregnant and ill. Her residence on her death certificate was given as 233 Perkins Street, residence of her mother Gay.

* * *

Some time in January of 1946 Donna was taken to City Hospital. She was ill enough for her two sons to be brought from the Home to stay with Gay. On Saturday, 26 January, 1946, Donna died of a cerebral hemorrhage. She was buried Tuesday, 29 January, at Mount Peace Cemetery.

* * *

On 29 June, 1946, Elmer, now listed as a truck driver residing at 489 Tuscarawas Avenue, Barberton, made application for a marriage license to marry Eva L. Caipen-Derring of Westerly Road. They were married 29 June by Minister Winifred Dage of Peerless Avenue, Akron.

Eva allegedly had a couple of children, also in the Children's home. Elmer had met her there on a visitors' day. The story was told that Elmer had planned to help Eva get her daughters out of the Home and adopt them, then get his two daughters out.

In the 1948-49 City Directory Mrs. Eva Corbin resided at 15 Axline Avenue, Portage Lakes. 1950-51 Directory lists Elmer J. and Eva Corbin residing at 402 East Market Street. He worked at Holy Cross Memorial Park. He dug graves.

In 1950 Nellie and Russell Ballou, who worked at Ford Motor Company, are listed in the Directory as owning a home at 1214 6th Street, NW Interestingly, an Esther and Harold Newell, who shared the same surname as Elmer's brother-in-law Jack Newell, resided at the 6th Street, NW domicile. Harold worked for Burnbaum Company.

In 1952 Elmer is listed as working at United E & F Company, and residing at 1214 6th Street, NW Mrs. Ballou is still at this address. In 1954 Elmer J. and Nellie S. Corbin resided at 1008 2nd SW From 1958 until his death in 1977, Elmer and Nellie lived at 406 Marion Avenue, SW, Canton. Elmer worked for Republic Steel Corporation, where his brother Fred Corbin also worked.

In September, 1977, Elmer was taken to Aultman Hospital in Canton, where he died on Saturday, the 10th. Funeral services were conducted by Jacob-Waltner Funeral Home, with Pastor Glenn Sperry officiating. Elmer was interred at Powhatton Point Cemetery in Powhatton, Ohio. A friend of the widow had donated a plot, according to his widow. Elmer's funeral was probably attended by his remaining brothers and sisters, possibly his stepsons James Baird of Massillon and Bryce Ballou of Canton, who were Nellie's children. Most certainly his daughters Patty Ann Corbin-Hensley and Jacqueline Melissa Corbin-Wooten were not present.

* * *

It is difficult to use such public records to mark Elmer's personality, how he might have related to Donna, his life with her.

In conversations and interviews with his widow, his sister, his stepsons Ron and Dallie, and indeed with his daughters, one is left with strikingly different versions of who Elmer was.

Reaching into astrological profiles is equally vexing -- all of Elmer's planets in his horoscope were 'in house cusps", on an 'edge' of its sign either coming from or going into another house. For this reason statements in his horoscope will be 'qualified' for many, perhaps most of his planets' influences, since all of his houses were subject to neighboring house influences.

Excerpts were taken from Grant Lewi's Heaven Knows What, and Astrology for the Millions, and do not constitute a complete horoscope. His Sun-Moon sign is best summed up: "Elmer could be a caring person when he was in his element. When he was a square peg in a round hole, and discontent, he was demanding, unreliable, and even deceptive. He could have a depth and character, but also a blustery exterior.

However, he 'colored' his experiences with his view of their nature rather than to 'see' their real and true nature.

He could be attentive to one he loved, but ignore those of disinterest, and was essentially not a humanitarian. Rather than in society, his interest was in position, and he was touchy and easily offended, a high-strung person.

He tended toward introversion and was set in his attitude, tended to self-pity. He liked to seem as authoritative and a person of con- sequence, and was impressed by power and fame. He had an orientation toward self-preservation, security and material comfort and, when secure, could be smug and self satisfied. He also took some things too much for granted.

Elmer needed a home as a repository for his ego satisfaction, and was incomplete as a person until this need was met."

* * *

Sun conjunct Mercury

"...You have fixed opinions, though you are not stubborn. Self-abnegating until opposed, and then capable of bull-line stubbornness." (Heaven Knows What)

Mars conjunct Uranus

"...[This] aspect indicates precociousness, impulsive reactions. This person [jumps] into emotional involvements without considering [relationships]."

(Heaven Knows What)

Moon opposition Venus

"...aspect doesn't make you very sociable...won't be bothered. Truth is, you're sensitive, a sort of inferiority complex about popularity. Very much impressed about sex matters which need controlling. A real spendthrift at heart...emotionally temperamental." (Heaven Knows What)

Moon square Neptune

"...indicates how we respond emotionally, [learned] from mother in the first three years of life. [Indicates] some delusion...about mother..." (Astrological...)

"...impairs creative gifts. Capable of daydreaming...concocting brave plans if you could carry them out. A naive charm to your nature..." (Heaven Knows What)

Venus square Neptune

"...you are sensational rather than intellectual in your emotions and find it difficult to say no to an appeal to your feelings...you say no at the wrong time, judgment in love matters being bad and making you capricious...making you alternately yielding and uncompromising." (Heaven Knows What)

Saturn trine Neptune

"The effect of this aspect is that it bolsters and powerfully supports whatever other tendencies are shown in the horoscope." (Heaven Knows What)

* * *

"...Elmer used to run with Jess [Newell]...Elmer and Jess used to be buddies. Jess Newell still lived in Copley...out there in the 'Swamps'. I was only there one time, and I remember the damned doors and windows would fly open and the flies and mosquitoes...and it had...mom cooked on a kerosene stove out there. I was living with Grandma. And she took me out there to see you guys...and they were so filthy, and the damned bugs, I'll never forget the bugs. But Jess worked across the street from you guys there. You guys only spent one summer out there.

And Aunt Virginia and Uncle Chuck lived on Van Evera Road, and they're the ones told Elmer about the lots out there, for sale. They were going for $75 a piece and Elmer put down $10 and was paying $10 a month. Course when the war ended in '45, he lost his job at Aerospace [Goodyear Aircraft]...course, when everybody got broke up, they lost the lots." (Ron Bosley, 1989)

* * *

"I remember once out in Sawyerwood, I was playing in Elmer's Model T Ford, pretending I was driving it...he came storming out of the house, opened the driver's door. He told me to move over, got in and started it up. I was scared to death he was mad at me for playing in his car, but he didn't say anything. Then when he drove off, I thought 'Maybe he's going to take me away some place and leave me because I had been bad', but he was only going to the store for mom. And, of course, he had cooled off by the time we got home..." (Dallie Vernon)

* * *

"I have to tell you another thing about that Bank Street...Elmer had gotten paid, paid the rent, bought groceries, and they didn't have two nickels to rub together afterwards. This is right around Christmas, about '43. Grandma came over...she brought me a set of George Washington lead soldiers. Somebody made them at the shop, she bought them. She came over, and when she left, Elmer says, 'Everybody get their coats on, we're going to get hamburgers and go to the movies. That was a real treat. And Grandma came back. She said, 'Elmer, I want my five dollars back!' At first he started denying it, and she says, 'Don't tell me any lies, just give me my five dollars back.' He gave her five dollars and she left. When she'd gone, he told us, 'Well, we ain't going to the show kids.' And we were all [mad] at Grandma. We didn't know he had got in her purse, stole that money while she was in the house. Jacquie was real little, still in diapers." (Ron Bosley, 1989)

* * *

"I can remember going to Grandma's house, and every time we left, dad was upset." (Patty Ann Merrell)

* * *

"And I remember the only time daddy ever busted my butt, I think I had thrown some flour at one of [you] guys. That's the only...he just smacked me, at that. And it broke my heart. Cause I remember Elmer took me...and Jacquie everywhere, to all the beer joints. You remember those old-time beer joint chairs? I can recall sitting up on them...just as big. And I remember the day we were taken away, the Sheriff's Department coming up...I remember daddy being in the police car, and the cop says, "...well, damn, Corbin. You can't even buy those boys shoes for school." And daddy says, "Don't take my babies." I remember that. And he says, "I promise I'll get them shoes, just don't take my babies". And he was crying. And Momma started crying. And, of course, me and Jacquie started crying. Cause they said it was partly because we didn't have enough food. And you boys didn't have school shoes. And Jacquie and me were holding each other..." (Patty Ann Merrell)

* * *

"When Donna was laid to rest, Elmer noticed that Donna, laying in her casket, was still wearing her wedding ring. Elmer had the funeral director remove the ring and give it to him [after the funeral]. I told Gay. Gay got on the phone and demanded Elmer bring the ring over at once or she'd call the police; that she, Gay, had paid $100 for it. Elmer brought the ring over within the hour..." (Josephine Meadows, 1988)

* * *

"I don't know. I always felt bad about them when they finally did break up, you know...what happened and all. Cause...really, in a way, it wasn't anyone's fault...just circumstances...I think [Elmer] was in [jail] for full term...because my brother, my oldest brother got hold of it. Fred. And helped him. But he was in [jail] about a year, I guess. Well, now, he was in and out, because they kept saying, 'Non-support, non-support...', and they'd yank him back in again. And Fred finally got hold of it, and said, 'You either do something or another. Either give him the kids, or leave him alone.' Uncle Earl got in on that, too."

"That was about the right...at that time, that's when they decided...that they weren't capable of looking after them [kids]. But Fred said that either...Uncle Earl helped him, and of course Uncle Earl, through different organizations...between him and Fred, and different places Uncle Earl knew, they got...he told them, 'Either charge him or else'. And they did have him for non-support, they said. At first. And then after Uncle Earl got into it, these different places got in on it, why...they just...dropped the whole thing..."

"That's when they put [all the kids] in the Home and left them there. Then Elmer was supposed to pay support, and [the kids] were not supposed to be [fostered] out. Well, Elmer went to see them one day, and they weren't there. And they wouldn't tell him where they were." (Virginia Mae Corbin-Call)

* * *

"We seen them [out at Sunshine Cottages], but [when] we went to see them at the Home, they had them at the Home. No, it must have been at Sunshine Cottages. And then when they left there, we didn't know where they went. They told us they wouldn't let any...they even told Fred it was none of his business. Course, Fred tried...

At the time...they had him [Elmer] [in jail]; they [told him], 'Well, Donna's pregnant again'. They never...I don't think she ever went to jail. She was pregnant, was most of it. And then, of course, she wasn't well. At that time she began to lose her strength. her body just seemed to weaken."

"She had very high blood pressure. That's really what killed her."

"That was after she went to live with your...grandmother. And she, of course, what she did was had a stroke with it." (Virginia Mae Corbin Call)

"We lived out there, in Wadsworth. We used to keep in touch with Elmer...went to Elmer's quite a bit." (Margaret Viola Corbin-Shultz, 1989)

* * *

"[If Elmer's brothers and sisters were down on him because of what happened], I was not aware of it. I really wasn't aware of that. None of them came around, Dallie. I can remember when, early Forties, we had visitors. Uncle Floyd, when we visited Uncle Fred, lived out at the Lakes, and visited Aunt Virginia, I lived on Van Evera. But they never visited us. None of them. The whole time. I cannot remember any time during the whole time they were married, any of Corbin's people come to visit Donna. But yet, when we went to visit them, they seemed very nice, very cordial...Virginia and Charlie, we used to butcher their hogs and they'd give us the head, the ears, the feet and the tail. We'd have that to eat on. We'd butcher their hogs for them, and that's what we'd take home with us. Peel the head down, peel all the meat off of it..." (Ron Bosley, 1989)

* * *

"I remember Aunt Ruth and Uncle Fred...they really treated us great." (Ron Bosley, 1989)

* * *

According to Elmer's widow, Nellie Leonard, Elmer claimed he didn't know Donna very well when they were married, that she had brain surgery "as a result of a fall." He'd said he was put in jail as a result of the child neglect charge, that the court ordered him and Donna to stay apart. He told Nellie that Donna had died in childbirth, that he had been in Pennsylvania looking for a job when he got word Donna had died, and that he came back.

* * *

From a letter postmarked 14 November, 1991, Canton, Ohio:

"Dear Folks,

I just got your letter today so I am going to answer right back, for this is one of the days I can see pretty well...I am almost 80. It's not cataracts, it's degeneration [sic]. But Ruth [Green-Corbin] is worse off than me. She is in the Akron Hospital now. She has been sick almost ever since she moved in [these apartments]...all she has told me of Donna your mom [is] that she was a very patient person, that they were trying to build a house and lived in a shack till they could get lumber, then the welfare came and took the girls. She said she and Fred wanted to take the girls but they were put in the children's home and your grandmother took the boys. Donna was sick. Elmer tells me a different story, said he was working at Goodyear and had bought the lot and tried to get the lumber to get his house built but one could not get things then. He said he came home from work and they put him in jail and sent her to her mother's and put the girls in the Home, so he lost his job etc. There are two sides to every story. This was all before I met him. I have no doubt he loved your mother...

I don't know what I could tell you of Elmer that would be of value in your history or genealogy. He had quite a colorful life. [He] was in CCC in California [during the Depression], in several forest fires, and was declared dead twice. Came back and drove a bootleg car from West Virginia for a while, worked for a carnival for a while--"The Mighty Sheatsley"; worked on the railroad; was a prize fighter for a while. [He] used to drink, but got put in the 'chain gang', and never took another drink. This I know, because we were married then. I was his fourth and last wife; Donna his second, so I don't dwell on his love life. I know [that] if I could see better I would write the story of his life. I know I could sell it to at least a True Story magazine. Anyway if you want to come down, we will tell you all we know...

Love, Nellie"

* * *

Nellie said that Elmer's family blamed "everything" on him, that "it was his fault", and they had little to do with him for a while.

Apparently, Elmer met Eva Derring at the Children's Home, married her. Said Elmer and Eva were married only a short time. Then Nellie met and married Elmer. She was vague about the year.

Nellie had two children, sons James Baird of Massillon, born in Wheeling, West Virginia; and Bryce Balou of Canton. Nellie said Elmer formally adopted Bryce as his son (he was born in '48, about the time Elmer and Nellie met). Before Elmer died, he'd been ill with emphysema, diabetes, and a couple of other infirmities. He was 64 years old. (Nellie was interviewed in the mid-1980's)

* * *

The last memory I have of Elmer was when he visited Grandma when we had a room at 940 South Main Street near South Street in South Akron. It was after Grandma had taken me from the children's home, around 1948 or '49. I was ten or eleven.

He came walking up the front lawn walk toward the porch where I was playing. I called out, "Hi dad," not knowing what else to say. He was the only man I'd ever known to call Dad. He asked where 'Gay' was. I said she was inside. He went inside the rooming house into the living room-turned parlor. He was gone, maybe ten minutes, maybe an hour, when he came storming through the screen door from the house and literally flew down the steps of the porch. Grandma was following him as far as the porch, shouting after him, "...you killed her just as though you'd put a gun to her head..."

* * *