The Shemwell Family

Dorothy Madeline Miller Family Listing Refer to the attached document (Album Page) showing the time lines of Dorothy's family relationships. Dorothy married (John Peter Rowe) when she was 17yrs and had her first child when she was just 17.5yrs. Birth Certificates support she had 3 children: John Rowe Jr, Harold Ray Rowe, and Barbara Joan Rowe. It appears that John and Dorothy divorced after the birth of Barbara Joan Rowe as John Peter Rowe married Mary Helen Carpenter on August 5, 1933. Subsequently, John Rowe Jr died on July 4, 1934. A few weeks later, Dorothy married Arthur Cochran. Dorothy died on June 15, 1935. Four months later, Arthur married Nancy Ann Schirm on Oct 12, 1935. The 1940/50 Census shows Arthur, Nancy, and Barbara Joan listed all with the "Cochran" surname. Subsequent records for Barbara Joan all show her with a "Cochran" surname. The 1940/50 Census with John Peter Rowe and Mary Helen Carpenter list just their three daughters: Thelma Joy Rowe, Rosemary G Rowe, and Betty Jean Rowe. Note that Harold Ray Rowe does not appear in either Arthur Cochran or John Peter Rowe's family listing in the 1940/50 Census. In 1940, Harold would have just been 9 yrs old. I have reviewed all of the family members (parents and siblings) of the John Peter Rowe, Arthur Cochran, and Dorothy Miller. None of those family members show a "Harold" listed in the 1940/50 Census. There are no other records to be found on a Harold Ray Rowe born in 1931. He was indirectly listed on Barbara Joan Rowe's 1933 Birth Certificate as a living child. It is reasonable to assume that Harold died in the 1933 to 1940 timeframe. The other question concerns after John Peter Rowe and Dorothy Miller divorced is where were their 3 children living. Note that in John Peter Rowe's Obituary it was only mentioned that John Rowe Jr was his child along with the children via the Mary Helen Carpenter marriage. His Obituary specially does NOT mention either Harold Ray Rowe or Barbara Joan Rowe; although, he is listed as the father on their Birth Certificates. It is safe to assume that after he and Dorothy divorced the only child staying with John was John Jr. It is highly probable that Dorothy kept Harold and Barbara to live with her and her new spouse, Arthur Cochran. Assuming that Harold Ray Rowe died before 1940, it is obvious that he would not show up in the 1940 Census. I will address the issue of the relationship status of the Rowe children. Based on the data/timelines, I conclude the following: (1) Barbara and Harold were adopted by Arthur Cochran in 1934 right after he married Dorothy, (2) Barbara and Harold (if he was still living) was further adopted by Nancy right after she married Arthur Cochran in 1935. Since Harold and Barbara were young children during this timeframe, the adoptive parents essentially raised them. Ideally, an actual Adoption Certificate is needed; however, for all intent Barbara and Harold essentially became the children of Arthur and Nancy.