I have been searching for my grandfather John Howard Coulter who was born at Bellaire, Belmont County, Ohio, on 22 Feb 1896.
He married Clara Mae Newton and had two daughters Mildred (1918 Ohio) and Edna (1916 Ohio - 2004). He left the family abt 1939 and never returned.
My mother never knew what happened to him and I have tried to find him as a mission from her. Social Security was no help. I've looked all through ancestry.com. He may have changed name or spelling, who knows? So frustrating.
In the 1940 Census there is a H. Colter in Washington D.C., which could be a lead. Rumor was the Govt was looking for him regarding the service.
He had a sister, Alice V. Coulter McClelland. Parents were: Francis M. Coulter and Margaret Pelkey (orig name Peltier).
Timeline events
1896 born in Bellaire, Belmont County, Ohio (Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003)
1900 residing in Bellaire Ward 3, Belmont, Ohio with parents∗, sister and grandmother (United States Census, 1900)
1910 residing in New Philadelphia Ward 1, Tuscarawas, Ohio with parents; occupation errand boy in enameling works (United States Census, 1910)
1914 marriage to Clara Newton in New Philadelphia, Ohio, but license issued in Ohio County, West Virginia (West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970 & West Virginia Vital Research Records - Marriage Records). Both mothers gave consent
1917 residing in New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas, Ohio; occupation reaming (U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918). Hearing and vision defects noted, so probably did not serve in the military.
1920 residing in Goshen, Tuscarawas, Ohio with wife & 2 children; occupation tinner in tin shop (United States Census, 1920)
1930 residing in New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas, Ohio with wife & 2 children; occupation tinner in tin shop (United States Census, 1930)
1940 probably∗∗ residing in District of Columbia, Police Precinct 12, District of Columbia with older cousin Lorene J Colter; occupation machinist in government office building (United States Census, 1940)
1942 residing in Washington DC; occupation self-employed (US World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942)
∗ Mother Maggie born in Canada, according to several, but not all, of the sources.
∗∗ Discrepancies - entry uses (middle) name Howard, age is off by 2 years, marital status is single, and residence in 1935 is Newark, Licking County, Ohio. Informant not marked.
Wiki tree profile John Howard Coulter (1896)
(Original poster may be the same as profile manager Charlyn Beatty).