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Hazel Bernice Woodhurst was born in Iowa in 1898 to parents William (5) Woodhurst and his wife Helen Eveline (nee Darling). A delayed birth certificate was issued for her in 1953 on which her son-in-law Jack H. Walker attested that her birthdate had been March 29th 1898 and her birthplace Maquoketa, Jackson Co. in Iowa. Her parents' names and birthplaces are entered correctly.
The US 1900 Census finds her at age "2" living with her parents in Maquoketa. The record states that she was born in March 1898.
The US 1920 Census finds her at age "22", unmarried and living as a boarder in the household of an electrician Raymond Clymer Hemphill in Davenport City, Scott Co. in Iowa. She was occupied as a checker in some kind of company. The housekeeper in this household was Anna M. (nee Woodhurst) Ellis, being Hazel Bernice's married (but now separated) sister who would later marry Raymond.
In 1920 she married Christian Frederick Grager. The register of Marriage Returns states that they married on August 23rd. He is described as an insurance agent aged "33" residing in Davenport who had been previously married; his parents are named as Nicholas and Catherine. Hazel is described as aged "23" and also residing in Davenport.
Christian, who was born on March 16th 1888, had first married at Maquoketa on January 26th 1909 to Emma M. (nee) Harder. He had then been occupied as a farmer. The 1910 Census finds him with Emma in Maquoketa and occupied as a harness maker. It is not known how their marriage had ended.
The Iowa 1925 State Census finds Hazel and Christian living in West End, Waterloo, Black Hawk Co. in Iowa.
The US 1930 Census finds them living in Belle Avenue, Davenport City with their daughter Della. Christian was occupied as a credit manager for a furniture store. Also in the household was Hazel's father William (5) Woodhurst aged "82".
The US 1940 Census finds the family living in West 17th Street in Davenport City where Christian was now occupied as a shoe repairer for a private industry (possibly his own business). Lodging with them was Hazel's widowed brother-in-law Raymond Clymer Hemphill.
Christian died on April 13th 1956 and was buried at Davenport Memorial Park. Hazel died three years later on May 15th 1959 and was buried with him.
Della was born at Waterloo, Black Hawk Co. on July 28th 1926, according to her birth certificate. The latter had originally given her mother's maiden surname as Grager instead of Woodhurst; this error was corrected on April 20th 1953.
According to a local newspaper report, she married on April 11th 1948 to Jack H. Walker and was then residing at 630 East 7th Street; She had worked as a secretary for the North-Western Railway Company and also as General Manager for Davenport High School.