Clifford and Opal Mann nee Stafford

Opal Irene "Sophie" Stafford (William¹ Robert² Andrew³ Daniel⁴ Clayton⁵) was the third child born to Clayton and Grace Stafford.^1,2  She was known as Sophie Stafford to her family.  Opal was born on 22 October 1904 in Creston, Union County, Iowa.^1,2 After her birth, the family did not stay in Creston for long, but returned to Kansas.  Within 2 years they moved at least 2 more times.  First to Atchison, Kansas³ and by the time Opal's youngest brother, Charley, was born the family was living in Glen Elder, Mitchell County, Kansas.⁴ Opal did not have an easy childhood.  

After her mother's death in 1915,⁵ Opal was sent to live in an orphanage in St. Francis, Cheyenne County, Kansas.¹  Later her sister, Martha and her husband, Boyd Burge, found her at the orphanage and took her to their home to live with them.¹  The 1920 census provides evidence that "Sophie" did live with Boyd and Martha Burge.⁶ 

Opal married Clifford Finley Mann at a young age of 15 on 11 August 1920.¹  The place where they were married is unknown at this time.  Since Opal was listed in 1920 in Jewell County, Kansas⁶ and Clifford Mann was enumerated in Yuma County, Colorado in 1920,⁷ their marriage probably occurred in or near one of these two locations.

Opal and Clifford Mann lived much of their lives in western Kansas and eastern Colorado near the state line where they farmed.  They were the parents of 11 children with 10 of the children¹ reaching adulthood.

Further research needed:

• Social Security SS-5 Application for Opal and Clifford Mann

• Marriage record for Clifford and Opal Mann

• Death certificate for Clifford and Opal Mann

i.

Russell Curtis Mann

b. 09 June 1922 in Colorado;⁹ d. 09 December 1994 in Walla Walla, Walla Walla County, Washington;¹ last known residence was Washtucna, Adams County, Washington;⁹ m. Betty [Surname unknown]¹

ii.

Norvin Leonard Mann

b. about 1924 in Colorado;⁸ d. [?]; m. Glendine Jackson¹

iii.

Donald Dallas Mann

b. about 1927 in Nebraska;⁸ d. [?]; m. 

iv.

Delbert Allen Mann

b. about 03 August 1928¹⁰ in Colorado;⁸ d. 23 April 2005;¹⁰ last known residence was Lind, Adams County, Washington;¹⁰ m. Ruby Solansky¹

v.

Wilma Norene Mann

b. ca 1930;¹ d. 07 December 1982¹  

vi.

Charlotte Louise Mann

b. ca 1932;¹  [?]; m. Charles Allen¹

vii.

Elmer James Mann

b. ca 1934;¹ d. [?]; m. Phyllis Hayes¹

viii.

Betty Jean Mann

b. ca 1937;¹ d. [?]; m. Machillia Murry¹

xi.

Cleona Frances Mann

b. 02 February 1939;¹ d. 11 February 1939¹

ix.

Esther Marie Mann

b. 01 June 1940;¹¹ d. 02 February 2002;¹¹ m. Leroy Ernest Colvin

x.

Helen Irene Mann

b. ca 1943;¹ d.  [?]; m. Clifford W. Gamel in 1966 in Coeur d'alene, Kootenai, Idaho¹

Opal Stafford and Clifford Mann

Census Records:

• 1910 - Linn County, Kansas living with Thomas N. Higgins

• 1920 - Jackson Township, Jewell County, Kansas

• 1930 - Kanorado, Sherman County, Kansas

Marriage Records:

• Need this record

Death Certificate:

• Need this record

Burial Records:

• Need this record

Additional Photos:

• Picture of Opal Mann and her sister, Martha Burge taken about 1980; courtesy of Marcy Volny.

¹

Family papers including Mann – Stafford Family Group Sheet and Funeral Card for Opal Mann; received from Marcy Volny 19 April 2002 and March 2007, respectively. And Opal Irene Mann Social Security Death Index entry; downloaded from Ancestry.com on 16 February 2006.

²

³

City News, Atchison Daily Globe, Thursday, 13 September 1906; page 2, column 6.

⁴

Charley Clayton Stafford (521-10-6113), SS-5 form, Application for Account Number, Social Security Administration.

⁵

Grace Everts Stafford death certificate no. 62560 (1915), Kansas State Board of Health, Division of Vital Statistics, Topeka, Kansas. 

And the transcription of “Obituary Mrs. Clayton Stafford,” The Beloit Gazette, 11 August 1915, transcription by Mitchell County Historical Society), no page or column cited; received from Mitchell County Historical Society, Beloit, Kansas.

⁶

Boyd Berg household, 1920 U.S. Census, Jewell County, Kansas, population schedule, Jackson Township, ED 74, SD 6, sheet 9A, dwelling 199, family 199; National Archives microfilm publication T625, roll 535.

⁷

⁸

Clifford Mann household, 1930 US Census, Sherman County, KS, Stateline Township, city of Kanorado, ED 13, SD 1, sheet 1B dwelling 15, family 15; NARA Microfilm T626, roll 724.

⁹

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