Viola May Cummings is the daughter of Gilbert H. Cummings and Charity Jane Barzee. Ollie, as she was called, was born 3 Jan 1857 in what was then called Breckenridge County, Kansas. She died 5 Aug 1953 at age 96 in Multnomah County, Oregon. She was buried 8 August 1953 at Riverview Abbey Funeral Home Mausoleum & Crematorium in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.

On 4 Jun 1881, at age 24, she married Charles Henry Hams, who was age 29, in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon. He is the son of James Hams and Anne Frances Marsh. He was born 20 Jul 1851 in Folkestone, Kent, England. He immigrated to the US in 1872 and became a US citizen in 1878. He died 19 Oct 1955 at age 104(!) in Multnomah County, Oregon. He was buried 20 October 1955 at Riverview Abbey Funeral Home Mausoleum & Crematorium in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.

Viola and Charles Hams at Charles' 100th birthday celebration (1951) .

Children of Viola May Cummings and Charles Henry Hams:

1. Minnie Rose Hams was born 13 Apr 1882 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.
2. Charles Gilbert Hams was born 14 Sep 1883 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.
3. Frances Jane Hams was born 13 Sep 1885 in Hardman, Morrow, Oregon. She and her husband owned and operated a restaurant in Portland, Oregon. She died 1 Oct 1957 at age 72 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon. She is buried at Riverview Abbey, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.
   • On 27 Apr 1911, at age 25, she married Robert M. Staysa, who was age 23, in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon. He is the son of William M. Staysa and Georgiana. He was born 4 Nov 1887 in Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania. He died 18 Dec 1953 at age 66 in Pacific City, Tillamook, Oregon. He is buried at Riverview Abbey Funeral Home Mausoleum & Crematorium in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.
4. Myrtle Gladys Hams was born 30 May 1891 in Hardman, Morrow, Oregon. She died 24 September 1962 at age 71 in Multnomah county, Oregon. She is buried at Riverview Abbey Funeral Home Mausoleum & Crematorium in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.
   • On 23 Jul 1908, at age 17, she married Wayne Howard, who was age 42, in Linn county, Oregon. He is the son of Thomas Richey Howard and Rebecca Long. He was born in Mar 1880 in Umatilla county, Oregon. He apparently died about 1909 since Myrtle is listed as a widow in the 1910 census.
   • She married Benjamin Newton Wade. He was a medical doctor. He was born 29 Jan 1887 in Gary, Deuel, South Dakota. He died 24 Jan 1978 at age 90 in Multnomah county, Oregon. He is buried at Riverview Abbey Funeral Home Mausoleum & Crematorium in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.
5. James Elmer Hams was born 6 Sep 1892 in Hardman, Morrow, Oregon.
6. Hazel V. Hams was born about 1896 in Oregon.
7. Opal May Hams was born 8 Oct 1898 in Morrow county, Oregon. She died 29 July 1902 at age 3 in Hardman, Morrow, Oregon. She is buried at Hardman Cemetery, Hardman, Morrow, Oregon.
8. Roy Addison Hams was born 11 Dec 1901 in Hardman, Morrow, Oregon.

Notes

Most of the information about Viola and Charles have been gleaned from a number of newspaper articles that have been published over the years as outlined below.

• The Hams celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, The Oregonian, 7 June 1931.
• The Hams celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary, The Oregon Journal, 9 June 1946.
• The Hams celebrate their 68th wedding anniversary, The Oregonian, 12 June 1949.
• The Hams celebrate their 69th wedding anniversary, The Oregonian, 11 June 1950.
• The Hams celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary, The Oregonian, 14 June 1951.
• The Hams celebrate 70 years of marriage, The Oregon Journal, 16 December 1951.
• The Hams approach 71 years of marriage, Heppner Gazette Times, 3 January 1952.
• The Hams celebrate their 71st wedding anniversary, The Oregonian, 3 June 1952.
• The Hams celebrate their 71st wedding anniversary, The Oregonian, 4 June 1952.
• The Hams celebrate their 72nd wedding anniversary, The Oregonian, 5 June 1953.
• Charles Hams turns 102, The Oregonian, 20 July 1953.
• Charles Hams turns 102, (unknown newspaper)
• Viola's obituary, The Oregonian, 7 Aug 1953.
• Viola's obituary, The Oregon Journal, 7 Aug 1953.
• Charles' obituary, The Oregon Journal, 19 Oct 1955.
• Charles' obituary, The Oregonian, 20 Oct 1955.
• Charles' obituary, Heppner Gazette, 27 Oct 1955.

Sources

Viola:

• Birth, Death and Burial from the Funeral Record.
• Death from Oregon Death Index [Name: Hams, Viola M; County: Multnomah; Death Date: 5 Aug 1953; Certificate: 9545; Spouse: Charles].

Charles H.:

• Birth, Death and Burial from the Funeral Record.
• Death from Oregon Death Index [Name: Hams, Charles H; County: Multnomah; Death Date: 19 0 1955; Certificate: 12443; Spouse: Viola].

Frances:

• Birth, Marriage, Death and Burial from her obituary in the Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, OR, 17 Oct 1957.
• Death from the Oregon Death Index [Name: Staysa, Francis J; County: Multnomah; Death Date: 01 0 1957; Certificate: 12003; Spouse: Robert].

Robert:

• Birth from his WWI draft card [Name: Robert M Staysa; City: Portland; County: Multnomah; State: Oregon; Birthplace: Codusport, Pennsylvania; Birth Date: 4 Nov 1887; Race: Caucasian (White); FHL Roll Number: 1852145; Occupation: Musician; Marital Status: Married; Registered: 6/5/1917].
• Birth from his WWII draft card [Name: Robert Morgan Staysa; Birth Date: 4 Nov 1886; Birth Place: Pattea County, Pennsylvania; Residence: Tillamook, Oregon; Race: White] which lists his birth as 1886.
• Death from the Oregon Death Index [Name: Staysa, Robert M; County: Tillamook; Death Date: 18 D 1953; Certificate: 14387; Spouse: Frances].

Myrtle:

• Birth from Oregon Birth Index [Birth Certificate: DF-499, 30 May 1891, Hardman, Morrow County, Oregon; Name: Myrtle Gladys Hams; Father's Name: Charles Henry Hams; Father's Birth Place: England; Mother's Maiden Name: Viola May Cummings; Mother's Birth Place: Kansas].
• Marriage to Wayne Howard from the Oregon Marriage Index [Name: Myrtle Gladys Hams; Name: Wayne Howard; County: Linn; Marriage Date: 23 Jul 1908].
• Death from Oregon Death Index [Name: Myrtle G Wade; Age: 71; Birth Date: abt 1891; Death Date: 24 Sep 1962; Death Place: Multnomah; Spouse: Ben; Certificate: 12335].

Benjamin:

• Birth from the South Dakota Birth Index [Name: Benjamin Newton Wade; Birth Date: 29 Jan 1887; Gender: Male; County: Deuel; Father's Name: Newton Murphy Wade; Mother's Name: Anna Stanley].
• Birth from his WWI draft card [Name: Benjamin Newton Wade; City: Portland; County: Multnomah; State: Oregon; Birthplace: Gary, South Dakota; Birth Date: 29 Jan 1887; Race: Caucasian (White); FHL Roll Number: 1852143; Trade: Physician and Surgeon; Marital Status: Married; Registered: 6/5/1917].
• Birth from his WWII draft card [Name: Benjamin Newton Wade; Birth Date: 29 Jan 1887; Birth Place: Gary, South Dakota; Race: White]. 
• Birth and Death from the Oregon Death Index [Name: Wade, Benjamin New; County: Multnomah; Death Date: 24 Jan 1978; Certificate: 78-01459; Age: 90; Birth Date: 29 Jan 1887].
• Birth and Death from the Social Security Death Index [Name: Ben Wade; SSN: 542-52-3235; Last Residence: 97236 Portland, Multnomah, Oregon; Born: 29 Jan 1887; Last Benefit: 97216 Portland, Multnomah, Oregon; Died: Jan 1978; SSN issued: Oregon (1962)].

Opal:

• Birth, Death and Burial from her headstone.

Census Listings

The individuals in this family appear in the following census listings.

• 1900 Census. Hardman, Morrow, OR. p. 6.
• 1910 Census. Daisy, Morrow, OR. p. 5.
• Frances and Myrtle: 1910 Census. Portland, Multnomah, OR p. 9.
• 1920 Census. Portland, Multnomah, OR. p. 13.
• 1930 Census. North Kelly Butte, Multnomah, OR. p. 7.
• Frances: 1930 Census. Portland, Multnomah, OR. p. 1.