Lost & Found: Our Family History Mysteries
Judy Garland's Gumm Family Ancestry
Excerpt from "Leaves From the Gum Tree" A history of the Gum family in America, beginning with Roger Gum in Delaware. by Muriel Martens Hoffman (Note: Words in italics are handwritten notes inserted into text of the book.)
“Many of the letters that we have received ask the question, "How is Judy Garland related to our family?" Frank Gum, from Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee, who later spelled his name Gumm, was the father of Frances Gumm, who chose Judy Garland for her stage name.
Frank Gum was the son of William Gum of Murfreesboro. "Frank Gum was born within sight of the town square of Murfreesboro, and sang in the choir of the St. Paul's Episcopal Church." (fn: "The Tennesseean," information 1966) He and his family were still living in Murfreesboro in 1905. (fn: Letter Mrs. Paul Mertz of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to Frances LaVelle of California in 1965. Information sent to Muriel Hoffman by Mr. LaVelle.)
Mrs. Paul Mertz wrote to Francis LaVelle in 1965, that her mother was a Gum and was a cousin of Frank Gum. Her grandfather's name was Alexander Gum.
From the 1880 Rutherford County census, we learn that William Gum was a merchant in Murfreesboro. His wife was evidently Elizabeth Baugh, for William and his family were living with her mother. His brother, Alexander, was also living in Murfreesboro. Wm. J. Gumm 1854-1906 Clemmie Baugh, wife of Wm. J. 1857-1895 Evergreen Cem. Murfreesboro, TN
#146, 1880 census #99 M.A. Baugh (f) 66, b. Tn. Alexander Gum 26, b. Tn Wm. F. Gum 26, son-in-law, Lucy Ann 25, b. Tn. merchant, b. Tn. Mary J. 6, b. Tn Elizabeth Gum 22, b. Tn. (Clemmie) James L. 4, b. Tn Mary F. Gum 4 mos., b. Feb. 1880, Tn. Henry H. 2, b. Tn
On the 1900, Rutherford County, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, census:
William
F. Gum B. Feb. 1859, age 41 (should be 1854) Mary D. Gum b. Feb. 1880, 20
years Emmett D. Gum b March 1883, 17 years Frank Gum b. March 1886, 14 years
William S. Gum b. Jan. 1889, 11 years Allie Gum b. Jan. 1892, 7 years
1910 Tallahoma Coffee Co. Frank Gum 23 (should be 26) Mary (sister) 28 (should be 30) Allen R.E. 16 (should be 18)
William's wife must have been deceased by 1900, and the oldest daughter, Mary, was at home with the younger children.
Both William and Alexander stated their age as 26 in 1880, but the birth date given by William in 1900, indicates he must have been 21. Some of the figures on the census are also difficult to read, and could have been copied incorrectly.
We do not have data from the 1860 and 1870 census. That record might give more about the family these two young men belonged to. (fn: census data at Ft. Wayne, Indiana, library)
Whether these two Gum families belonged to the Norton Gum who was in Rutherford County we do not know.
An Alexander Gum married Martha Wade on Nov. 25, 1851. If there was a relationship to the above William and Alexander Gum it is not known at the present.
We need help from Tennessee people to solve this relationship. Then we still lack proof of the relationship of the early Tennessee Gums to the Gum families in Virginia.
In later research, the 1860 and 1870 census microfilm was so difficult to read, that William F. Gum could not be placed in a proven family. Whether he and Alexander were brothers was not proven, because no family was found that included these two young men.
William F. Gum died not long after 1900. In 1910, Frank Gum was attending college at Tullahoma, Tennessee.
The 1910 census, Tullahoma, Coffee County, Tennessee, lists: Frank Gum 23 (26); Mary Gum 28 (30) sister; Allen R. B. Gum 16, (18) brother.
Frank Gumm married Ethel Milne about 1913. They were the parents of three daughters. They were living in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, where Frank owned and operated a theatre when the youngest daughter was born in 1922. The family moved to California a few years later.
Frank Gumm b. March 1886; d. 1935 m. Ethel Milne (about 1913) d. Jan. 5, 1952 1. Mary Jane (Suzy) Gumm b. abt. 1915 2. Virginia (Jimmy) Gumm b. abt. 1917 3. Frances Gumm b. June 12, 1922; d. June 22, 1969
Frances Gumm changed her name to Frances Garland in 1934, at the suggestion of George Jessel who had made fun of the name of Gumm. He suggested the name Garland for a friend of his. A short time later, Frances changed her name to Judy Garland.
The following "Ancestry of Frances Ethel Gumm" was posted on the Gumm Family Genealogy Forum at GenForum.com by Carl Dunn on November 11, 2001:
1 Frances Ethel 'Baby' Gumm 'Judy Garland' , b. 10 Jan 1922, Grand Rapids, Itasca,Minnesota, d. 22 Jun 1969, London, England. Entertainer. bur Ferncliffe Cemetery, Hartsdale, New York
Parents
2 Francis Avent 'Frank' Gumm, b. 1886, d. 17 Nov 1935, bur. Forest Lawn Cemetery, Glendale, California, md. 11 Jan 1914, Superior, Douglas, Wisconsin. Occupation Movie Theatre Owner/Operator Attended University of the South(Sewanee) 3 Ethel Marion Milne, b. 17 Nov 1893, ,Michigamme,Michigan, d. 5 Jan 1953. Occupation Stage Manager
Grandparents
4 William Tecumseh Gumm, b. ca. 1854, d 1906 of , Rutherford, Tennessee. bur Evergreen Cem, Murfreesboro, Rutherford, Tennessee md. 6 Jun 1877.
5 Elizabeth 'Clemmi' Baugh, of ,Rutherford, Tennessee. b. 25 Apr 1857, d. 29 Oct 1895.
6 John Milne, b. 15 Oct 1865, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, d. 7 Sep 1937, bur. Highland Park, Illinois, md. 4 Feb 1891, Sault Ste Marie, Chippewa, Michigan Occupation Railway Engineer.
7 Eva Fitzpatrick, b. 4 Jun 1865, Massena,New York, d. 17 Oct 1949, Los Angeles, California, bur Forest Lawn Cemetery, Glendale, California.
Great Grandparents
8 John Alexander Gumm, of ,Rutherford, Tennessee, b 3 Nov 1827, d 21 Mar 1904, bur Evergreen Cem, Murfreesboro, Rutherford,
Tennessee
9 Martha Wade, b 5 Dec 1835, d 28 Jun 1897, bur Evergeen Cemetery
10 John Aldridge Baugh, b 12 Mar 1806, d 16 Mar 1870, bur Evergreen Cemetery, md 13 Aug 1829. Occupation: Teacher
11 Mary Ann Marable, b 6 Aug 1812, d 29 Jun 1892, bur Evergreen Cemetery
12 Charles Milne, b. 1829 Arbroath, Scotland, d. 1900, of Ontario, Canada. res: 1871, Cliftion,Welland,Ontario, Occupation: Engineer
13 Mary Kelso, b. 1837 Kilmarnock, Scotland, d. 1892
14 Hugh Fitzpatrick, b 5 Jan 1838, Cornwall,Stormont, Ontario,Canada. bapt 11 Feb 1838, d 10 Jun 1908, Detroit,Wayne,Michigan, bur 13 Jun 1908, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Wayne,Michigan, md. 24 May 1858, Occupation: Shoemaker
15 Mary Elizabeth Harriot, b. 23 Dec 1841,Dublin,Ireland, d. 24 Jan 1908, Detroit, Michigan.
Great great grandparents
16-19 (Frena's note: unknown on Gumm side of the family)
20 Richard Baugh, md. 28 May 1800,,Mecklenburg,Virginia
21 Elizabeth Harwell
22._____ Marable
23-27
28 Hugh Fitzpatrick, b 1809, d 3 Jun 1878, Ontario, md 22 Mar 1836 Cornwall. Married (2nd) Catherine Grant
29 Margaret Ross, b 1807, Williamstown,Glengarry,Ontario, d 10 Feb 1845
30-31
3XGreat grandparents
32-39 (Frena's note: Gumm family unknown)
40 James Baugh, d. 1799, of Mecklenburg,Virginia
41 Agnes (Batte?)
42 James Harwell
43 44 Henry Hartwell Marable, Reverend, b. July 1753, d. 26 Oct 1833, of Smyrna, Rutherford,Tennessee, Occupation: Minister, md. 31 Oct 1775, Suffolk county, Virginia 45 Elizabeth Mason, d. 17 Dec 1840, Smyrna.
46-55
56 Hugh Fitzpatrick, b. ca. 1782, d. Aug or Sep 1812
57 unknown
58 Alexander Ross, b ca. 1771, md 20 Aug 1794, Williamstown
59 Jane McHenrie, b ca 1775
60-63
4X Great grandparents
64-87 (Frena's note: Gumm family unknown)
88 Benjamin Marable, b. aft 1710, d. 1773, Charfles City, Virginia
89 Judith _____
90 Isaac Mason, d. 1757
91 Ann Petway, b. ca. 1733 Married (2nd) Richard Lanier, 2 Apr 1759, Surry county,Virginia 9
2-111 112 Peter Fitzpatrick, b. ca. 1752, Ireland, d. ca. 1812, Canada
113 Catherine (Warner ?), b. ca. 1755, bur. 14 Apr 1834.
114-127
5 Great grandparents
176 George Marable,Major,b ca. 1665, d. ca. 1725, of James City,Virginia
177 Mary Hartwell, d. 26 Dec 1770
182 Robert Petway
6X great grandparents
352 George Marable, d. ca. 1683, immigrant, of James City, Virginia Possibly the George Marable, baptized 14 Aug 1631,Canterbury,Kent son of Valentyne Marable, bricklayer and wife, Ruth Monte md. 10 Apr 1630 and grandson of George Marable and Rachel Ford, md. 22 Jun 1596
353 Agnes Marjorum, d. ca. 1680
354 William Hartwell, Captain. immigrant
355 Mary Stevens
7X great grandparents
706 Bennet Marjorum, d. ca. 1675
-------------------------- Sources -------------------------------
1
Excerpt from "Get Happy", Gerald Clarke. Identifies grandparents of Frank Gumm
and parents of Ethel Milne. Has background on both families. http://www.geraldclarke.com/preview1.htm 2.Gedcom on
Roots Web, Nick Cimino, with some information furnished by Dee Rice. This is
under Hugh Fitzpatrick, 1838-1908. Contains the information on Fitzpatrick
ancestry. 3.Message on GenForum, Milne Family, posted by Richard M. Schickel.
Gives information on parents of John Milne. 4.An online source which I cannot
now locate, which gives information on burials in Evergreen Cemetery,
Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 5.Messages on GenForum, Baugh Family. 6 "Toward a
History of the Marable Families", James L. Marable, 1997 ~~"~~http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/~jlm/THMF/MF-3-HTM..htm Has
much documented information on Marable families. Note: I have been unable to
discover the father of Mary Ann Marable, the maternal grandmother of Frank Gumm,
but she is without doubt the grandaughter of Rev. Henry Hartwell Marable.