Western New York Roots

Submitted by Jody Keiser on Thu, 04/30/2009 – 4:30pm

I really hope some kind soul out there can help me. As I was researching my husband’s family, I found his biological grandmother is most likely Hazel Eldred Cone Baker Gigee. I am 99.9 percent sure it is. Sorry, but this is going to be a long one, even condensed.

Anyway, here is the info I have on her:

1915, Stueben County, NY, marriage record no. 5183: Listed as age 19 (dob 1896), born of Eldred George Eldred and Anna Belle Bennett.  Birthplace Middlesex, NY and current residence Avoca. Married to Dwight M. Cone, son of Robert Cone and Elizabeth Backer or Backus. Dwight’s residence listed as Hornell and he was a junk man. Performing the ceremony was Charles Henry Gall. Witnesses were C. H. Gall and Mary Belle Bennett. Marriage in Canisteo. (Information from a transciption posted on the Steuben County message board).

1928, Angelica, Allegany, NY: Dwight Cone sues Frank C. Baker for alienation of affections of his wife Hazel. It lists that by 1926 Dwight and Hazel had 6 children ranging in age from 3 – 10 years. These children were taken away and most sent west on the orphan train. A daughter, Grace, later returned to live with her father. Hazel and Dwight later divorced. (Court records held by a descendant of one of the six children)

1935, Frank Baker dies: The Olean Times-Herald 20 Nov 1935 reported that Frank C. Baker was placed under indictment for burglary third degree on 12 Nov 1935 and he was taken ill with pneumonia the next day and died as a result of the illness. Survivors were listed as his wife, Hazel Cone Baker; sons Clarence, Donald and infant; daughter Frances, and brother Harold.

1936, Petition for Administration of Estate: This lists Hazel as being 45 at the time, which would make her dob 1891 or 1892. It also lists 6 more children, born between 1929 – 1936, one boy of which was adopted out. This
also states that Hazel and Frank were married 20 Sept 1932. At the time of the petition, the five remaining Baker children were living with Hazel.  Frank had been a wealthy farmer and cattle man near Angelica. (Probate record)

Between 1929 and 1931, Frank and Hazel spent some time in jail for adultery (twice) and also were fined for abandoning a week-old baby on a Bolivar doorstep in 1929. There may have been another case of abandonment during this time, also.

1937, Frank Baker Estate: Hazel is listed as Hazel Baker Gigee. All children except Bennie were living with her. (Probate record) Bennie was living with Gar and Irene Cobin. In March of 1937, Hazel had a daughter, Ethel Mae, who was adopted by Gar and Irene Cobin. Ethel Mae is my husband’s mother.

2007, Obit for Loren M. Gigee: Son of the late Loren Lindsey Gigee and Hazel Baker Gigee. Born 1940. Retired minister from Two World’s Church in Seattle, Wa, and died in Elmira, NY. Survivors listed are brothers Judson Gigee and Donnie Baker.

1988, Obit for Buelah Winnie Gigee lists survivors as son, Judson, stepchildren Betty Kinner, Romaine Gigee, and Loren M. Gigee, Jr. Sometime after 1940, Loren Lindsey Gigee married Buelah Winnie.

What happened to Hazel? Where did she come from and where did she go? I have never found her on a census and I can find no obit for her. Did she and Gigee divorce and she remarried? At Frank C. Baker’s gravesite in Angelica, there is a double stone listing “Father” and “Mother” with Hazel M. Baker as Mother, 1892 – 19–, and no information that she is buried there. Is she Betty Kinner and Romaine Gigee’s natural mother?

Any and all help appreciated on this. Although my mother-in-law is still living, she doesn’t make much sense anymore and no one seems to know where her birth certificate is. It is said in the family that father’s name is listed as Evens/Evans on the birth certificate. I have not yet seen the certificate and no one seems to know where to locate it.

She also spoke of Grace Demick as being a half-sister to her, but how? Would that be Grace Cone? The inscription on Grace Demick’s daughter’s tombstone reads: HOWARD, Sue A. Spouse of Harvey ROSE [#1?] Born 10-27-1953 Died 10-21-2002 Age – Dau of Floyd & Grace (Evens) Demick, b. Wellsville-NY, d. Olean-NY, Wed #2? unknown HOWARD, Fiance of Mike Bova. This would make sense with Evens/Evans, but what happened to Grace Cone then? Did the Evens/Evans family adopt her?

UPDATE: According to Gigee family sources — Loren was born in 1909, so there was quite an age difference between him and Hazel. Children of Loren Gigee and Hazel Eldred Baker Gigee were Romayne (Romaine, still living in FL), Loren, Jr., and Betty. The children were all eventually farmed out with family to raise.

Loren and Buelah were married in 1943 in South Carolina.

Any help out there?