The Many Marriages of Elizabeth Coyne
Elizabeth Coyne was born 21 Feb 1897 in Rock Island County, Illinois. Elizabeth was the only child of James and Eliza (Bauer) Coyne. Her father, James Coyne, was a successful farmer in Blackhawk Township, Rock Island County, Illinois. She was often called Lizzy by her family and friends. Elizabeth’s first marriage was to my grandfather, Elmer Martin.
1915 Marriage to Elmer Martin
On 20 October 1915, Elizabeth Coyne, 18 years-old at the time, married 28 year-old Elmer Martin. Elmer, who also was born and grew up in Rock Island County, Illinois. His father and grandfather were prosperous farmers in Bowling Township.
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| Martin - Coyne Marriage 1915 |
As shown in the 19 Oct 1915 Reynolds Press news article below, a bridal shower was given for Elizabeth by some of her Coyne relatives.
Several months after their marriage, the newly weds moved into a new home that Elmer had just built. And, it seems they enjoyed a social life that included entertaining family and friends.
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Reynolds Press
22 Feb 1916 |
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Reynolds Press
8 Dec 1916 |
In 1919, Elmer and Elizabeth started on a motor trip to California. According to a news article, they started their trip on July 4th. On 30 July 1919, Elmer's father, John S Magleby, passed away. A news article printed almost a month later on 29 Aug 1919, stated that Elmer and Elizabeth, upon hearing of the death, had disposed of their car and were arriving back home by rail. Not sure how they would have been notified of the death of Elmer's father, especially since they would have been on the move and telephones were not widely used or available at that time.
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Reynolds Press
4 July 1919 |
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Reynolds Press
29 Aug 1919
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During their time on the west coast, Elmer and Elizabeth traveled up to Washington State, where Elmer climbed Mount Rainier in 1919. To read about Elmer's climb,
click here. While there are no identified photos of Elizabeth, the photo of Elmer swimming in the ocean is most likely of him and Lizzie.
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| Swimming in the Pacific Ocean |
Elmer and Elizabeth did not stay long in Illinois after the death of Elmer's father. Probably just long enough to settle up affairs. They soon returned to the west and settled in Dove Creek, Colorado by 1920. It is not known if Dove Creek was someplace they visited on their previous trip. In October 1920, Illinois friends, Mrs. Harry Bishop and daughter Frances, visited with "Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Martin of Dove Creek, Colorado" for two weeks.
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Reynolds Press
4 Oct 1920 |
The Martin's remained in Dove Creek for the next couple of years. In 1922, Elmer filed for divorce from Elizabeth. Elmer claimed desertion as grounds for divorce saying that Elizabeth had been gone for the past year. Family tradition states that Elizabeth ran off with Elmer's good friend Ted Bell.
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Rico Item, Rico, CO
22 July 1922 |
1924 Marriage to Ted Bell
After the divorce was final in 1923 from Elmer, Elizabeth married Ted Bell a year later in 1924. Ted Bell had divorced his wife in 1923. So by 1924, both Elizabeth and Ted were free to marry again. On 23 Aug 1924, Elizabeth and Ted married in Colorado Springs. (Marriage year wrong on record - should be 1924 not 1929.) Ten years later Elizabeth divorced Ted Bell, charging him with desertion in 1932. It seems what goes around comes around.
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| Marriage year should be 1924. |
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Rock Island Argus
26 Feb 1934 |
1934 Marriage to Robert Schaffer
Two days after the divorce from Ted Bell was granted, Elizabeth married Robert Schaffer on 28 Feb 1934. The marriage to Schaffer would last for 8 years until 1943 when Elizabeth divorced him for desertion. The divorce decree restored her maiden name, Elizabeth A. Coyne.
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The Dispatch, Moline, Illinois
1 March 1934 |
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Daily Times, Davenport, Iowa
3 Jun 1943 |
1944 Marriage to Ernest Richard Trask
On 28 Nov 1944, Elizabeth, age 47, married Richard Trask, age 37. They were married by Rev. Lacy in the Presbyterian Church. According to their wedding announcement, both Elizabeth and Richard were engaged in the real estate business in Rock Island County.
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The Daily Times
Davenport, Iowa
29 Nov 1944 |
Elizabeth and Richard Trask are found enumerated in the same household in the 1950 Federal Census of Moline, Rock Island, Illinois. Elizabeth is listed as the wife to Richard. The occupation for both is listed as real estate. The census was taken on 19 May 1950. On 25 Aug 1950, a divorce appeared in The Dispatch newspaper (Moline, Illinois).
1951 Marriage to William Warnock
Elizabeth, age 53, married William Marvin Warnock, age 45, on 21 April 1951 in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
In 1956, Elizabeth and Marvin, living in Phoenix, Arizona, are listed in a city directory. Elizabeth remained married to William Marvin Warnock longer than any of her previous husbands. When Marvin passed away in Arizona in 1971, they had been married for 20 years. Elizabeth was buried next to Marvin in the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington County, Iowa.
Obituary of Elizabeth Coyne Warnock
Elizabeth's obituary states that she was survived by several cousins. It should be noted that there are no records to suggest that Elizabeth ever gave birth to a child.
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