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Note: Asa Diver 1896-1983 Asa Diver was born to Daniel and Mary Louise Tennessee (Martin) Diver in Crosses, Arkansas on January 21, 1896. Crosses is a small town about 50 miles north east of Fort Smith. As an adult, Asa was five feet eight and one-quarter inches tall. He had grey eyes, brown hair, and a ruddy complexion. He married Doris Eloise Stowell on November 21, 1917, in Deerfield, Michigan. A son, named Louis Milton Diver on his birth certificate, was born exactly one month later, on December 21, 1917, in Toledo, Ohio. The birth certificate states that Toledo was the Divers residence at the time of the birth.* This child, called Joseph Diver in later adoption records, was adopted by Francis M. and Alma (Schoen) Grubb. Asa and Doris agreed to the adoption in the Probate Court of Lucas County, Ohio, when the baby was a month old, on January 24, 1918. The adoption was finalized on June 26, 1918, in the same court. At that time, he boys name was legally changed to Francis Charles Grubb. Asa and Doris had no other children. Asa enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in Toledo, Ohio, on May 10, 1918. He was inducted into the service on May 16 at Paris Island, South Carolina. Following training at Paris Island, Asa reported for duty in the Supply Company of the 13th Regiment at Quantico, Virginia, on July 10. He shipped out from Hoboken, New Jersey, on September 13, arriving in Brest, France, on September 25. Apparently, he served in Western France, since when he was stricken with tonsillitis (an abscess formed, which ruptured) in December 1918, the hospital he was sent to was in Saint-Nazaire, in Brittany. Asa returned to the United States on August 8, 1919, where he was discharged from the Marines at Hampton Roads, Virginia, on August 12. Asa earned the Good Conduct Medal despite discipline he received for being A.W.O.L. in April 1919 (he was for forty-five minutes late returning to his base one evening). The 1920 Census, taken in January of that year, lists his occupation as the proprietor of a garage. He and Doris then were living with Doriss parents and her younger sister, Claire, in the parents home on Ypsilanti Street in Dundee, Michigan. He later worked as a tool maker with the Ford Motor Company, retiring from the Ypsilanti plant in 1961. Asa belonged to the American Legion, the Blanchard Masonic Lodge, No. 102 F. and A. M. and, later, to the Deerfield Senior Citizens. Asa and Doris eventually made their home at 15000 Ayres Highway, Tipton, Michigan. Still later, they both resided at the Herrick Nursing Home in Tecumseh, Michigan. Moira Stanbery, the wife of Asas cousin Max Stanbery, remembered Asa warmly. Max grew up with his cousins; Max and Moira regularly visited with Asa and Doris through the years. Asa and his brother Milton were both very funny. Asa worked very well with his hands and always had a project going. Moira remembers that often the projects made Doris crazy because Ace (as he was known) never seemed to complete them. For example, when Asa and Doris retired to Round Lake, Michigan, Asa decided to remodel the house. While the bedrooms were completed nicely, the doors never got rehung. To Doriss consternation, curtains had to be used in the doorways. Doris died on March 1, 1983. Asa died just over two months later, on May 16, 1983. He was 87. He was survived by a brother, Milton, who lived in Arizona, and by several nieces and nephews. Asa was buried from the Couture-Stark-Proctor Funeral Home in Tecumseh. He is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Dundee, Michigan. *According to both the 1917 and 1918 editions of Polks City Directory for Toledo, the resident at 315 West Bancroft Street, Toledo, Ohio, (the address given on the birth certificate) was one Daniel P. Osterhout. The Divers names do not appear in the Directory. It seems highly likely, therefore, that they were transients, coming to Toledo for purposes of the birth. 315 West Bancroft is now a vacant lot. Birth certificate for Louis Milton Diver. Adoption records for Francis Charles Grubb, Probate Court of Lucas County, Ohio. Obituary in the Adrian (Michigan) Telegram, May 16, 1983. Telephone interview with Mrs. Moira Stanbery, 6 July 1997.
The above information provided by Geoffrey Grubb, grandson of Asa & Doris. In the summer of 1997 I received a letter from Geoffrey. He had seen Asa and Doris' names in my genealogy file, as it had been included in the World Family Tree, Vol. 3, that the makers of Family Tree software had collected and published on CD. He inquired as to did I have any further information or know who he might contact to learn more. He further stated that his father had been adopted and that his research had shown that the natural parents had been Asa and Doris Diver. I called Moira Stanbery and told her about the letter. Her husband Max was a cousin to Asa and the two couples had kept up during the years. Max and Moira had also kept in touch with Milton, Asa's brother. There had never been any knowledge that Asa and Doris had had a child. She was quite amazed that it had remained a secret all these years, almost 80 years! I made contact with Geoff and gave him Moira's phone number. She was able to tell him what his grandparents were like as people. She also sent him some photos of them that he was able to make copies of.
Buried Maple Grove Cemetery, Dundee, Michigan
Name: Asa Diver Birth Date: 21 Jan 1896 Death Date: 16 May 1983 Gender: Male Residence: Manchester, Washtenaw, Michigan Place of Death: Tecumseh, Lenawee, Michigan
County Lenawee City/village/township Deerfield Last Name Diver Given Name Asa Age 57 Death Day 21 Death Month Sep Death Year 1901 Father's Given Name John Father's Last Name Diver
Birth: 1896 Death: 1983
Burial: Maple Grove Cemetery Dundee Monroe County Michigan, USA
Created by: SisterMaryLouise Record added: Aug 13, 2009 Find A Grave Memorial# 40637107
Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952
Name: Asa Diver Gender: Male Race: White Birth Year: abt 1896 Birth Place: Arkansas Marriage Date: 21 Nov 1917 Marriage Place: Ida, Lenawee, Michigan, USA Age: 21 Residence Place: Deerfield, Michigan Father: Daniel Diver Mother: Tinnie Martin Spouse: Doris Stowell Spouse Gender: Female Spouse Race: White Spouse Age: 19 Spouse Birth Place: Michigan Spouse Residence Place: Dundee, Michigan Spouse Father: Clarence Stowell Spouse Mother: Dorothy Simmons Record Number: 417 Film: 134 Film Description: 1917 Ingham - 1917 Macomb
1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Asa Diver [Asa Divers] Age: 23 Birth Year: abt 1897 Birthplace: Arkansas Home in 1920: Dundee, Monroe, Michigan Street: Ypsilanti Street Race: White Gender: Male Relation to Head of House: Son-in-law Marital Status: Married Spouse's Name: Doris Diver Father's Birthplace: Michigan Mother's Birthplace: Louisiana Able to Speak English: Yes Occupation: Proprietor Industry: Garage Employment Field: Own Account Able to Read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Clarence Stowell 47 Dott Stowell 48 Claire Stowell 17 Asa Diver 23 Doris Diver 21
1930 United States Federal Census Name: Asa Diver Birth Year: abt 1896 Gender: Male Race: White Birthplace: Arkansas Marital Status: Married Relation to Head of House: Head Home in 1930: Dundee, Monroe, Michigan Map of Home: View Map Street address: Tecumsch Street House Number in Cities or Towns: 304 Dwelling Number: 27 Family Number: 30 Home Owned or Rented: Owned Home Value: 2000 Radio Set: Yes Lives on Farm: No Age at First Marriage: 21 Attended School: No Able to Read and Write: Yes Father's Birthplace: Michigan Mother's Birthplace: Mississippi Able to Speak English: Yes Occupation: Bridgeman Industry: Structural Steel Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker Employment: No Veteran: Yes War: WW Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Asa Diver 34 Doris Diver 32 Tennie Diver 59
1940 United States Federal Census
Name: Asa Diver Respondent: Yes Age: 44 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1896 Gender: Male Race: White Birthplace: Arkansas Marital Status: Married Relation to Head of House: Head Home in 1940: Dundee, Monroe, Michigan Map of Home in 1940: View Map Street: Tecumsch Street House Number: 230 Farm: No Inferred Residence in 1935: Dundee, Monroe, Michigan Residence in 1935: Same House Sheet Number: 2B Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 43 Occupation: Machinist House Owned or Rented: Owned Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 1800 Attended School or College: No Highest Grade Completed: High School, 4th year Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 40 Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work Weeks Worked in 1939: 52 Income: 1800 Income Other Sources: No Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Asa Diver 44 Doris Diver 42
Michigan, Death Index, 1971-1996
Name: Asa Diver Birth Date: 21 Jan 1896 Death Date: 16 May 1983 Gender: Male Residence: Manchester, Washtenaw, Michigan Place of Death: Tecumseh, Lenawee, Michigan
Michigan, Death Index, 1971-1996
Name: Asa Diver Birth Date: 21 Jan 1896 Death Date: 16 May 1983 Gender: Male Residence: Manchester, Washtenaw, Michigan Place of Death: Tecumseh, Lenawee, Michigan
Adrian Telegram 1/2/1914 Friday Elwood Stanbery and Asa Diver were Dundee visiters Tuesday evening.
12/28/1915 Tuesday Asa Diver of Wilmington, O. is visiting relatives here.
11/27/1917 Diver-Stowell Asa Diver of this palce and Miss Doris Stowell of Dundee were united in marriage at Dundee last Wednesday. They will live in Toledo.
2/13/1918 Wednesday Mr & Mrs Asa Diver of Toledo, will make their home with the former's mother Mrs Tinnie Diver. Mr Diver will work for Daykin garage until Uncle Sam is ready for him.
5/17/1943 The World War 25 Years Ago Today Asa Diver of Deerfield left Wednesday morning for Parris Island SC to begin training in the US Marine Corps.
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