Elaine Julia Irvin

Notes:

According to her son Harold W. Cleveland:
I recall seeing pictures of her taken during WWI in a nurses uniform, and I seem to remember hearing that she had served as an ambulance driver -an unusual occupation for a woman in those times. I find it believable because she was a very strong-minded person who was successful at anything she tried. She played piano "by ear", and was a pretty fair sketch artist.

To me, she seemed a big boned woman, but not fat - although she seemed to be constantly fighting a tendency toward over-weight. Other sources however describe her variously as being a small person with intense blue eyes; and a slender, vivacious person with black hair. (I recall her normal hair color being auburn, but she kept it dyed black because she felt, for some reason, that it was more appropriate in her profession.)

She had a fiery temper, but could be extremely charming. It was this latter attribute that made her so successful as a Beautician - women seemed drawn to her and her clientele ranged from the upper echelons of Hannibal (Mo) society to the local "Ladies of the Night". She was friend and confidant to them all, and by all reports well loved by her family.

An example of her open-mindedness was revealed by her reaction to her brother Oney's way of life; she disapproved of his life as a "bum" but admired him for living as he preferred - despite criticism from his family.

She was licensed by the state as an Beauty Culture Instructor and always had an apprentice or two helping in the "Salon" as she called it.

In 1933 she was diagnosed as suffering from colon cancer (a term not then used in polite society!) and after an extended period of illness and two major surgeries, she went into a coma in January of 1935, and on the 13th she died.

Elaine married Harold Herndon Cleveland in 1916 in Chillicothe, MO. Harold (son of Arlie E. Cleveland and Julia Emmory Otey) was born on 18 Dec 1895 in Hale, MO; died on 16 Jun 1943 in Burlington, IA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Harold William Cleveland