Generations at the Table
Biographies:
Belle (Merritt) Earl
Belle Edna Merritt was born on September 6, 1884, in Illinois[1] to Mary Ann Lucy and George Washington Merritt[2]. Belle’s parents had married two years prior to her birth.[3] A sister, Clara, was born two years later in December of 1886,[4] though it appears as though both George and Clara may have died shortly after Clara’s birth. Mary Ann remarried within a few years to William Rees, and they had two other children: Lila in 1890 and William in 1897. By 1900, the Rees family had moved to Long Beach, where Belle attended school.[5]
In 1904, Belle married Thomas Davis Pollock in Los Angeles,[6] and within a few years they made their home in Ventura[7]. Davis worked as a walnut farmer[8] while Belle kept their home.[7]
The year of 1910 marked the start of many changes for the Pollocks. The couple left Ventura and moved around Southern California several times within the next two years, living in Monrovia[9], Alhambra[10], and San Gabriel[11] before finally settling down in Pasadena in 1912.[12] Periodically traveling back to Ventura to tend to their farm, the Pollocks remained in Pasadena for several years. In 1918, they purchased around 40 acres of land in the Sacramento area[13] and relocated to the new farming property later that same year.[14]
Their family also had some big changes during this same time period. In April of 1911, the Pollocks adopted a three year old girl named Laura Bell Deitrich[15] who had been taken away from her parents after being found abandoned in the rain with her younger sister. Belle and Davis initially fostered Laura for several weeks, after which they petitioned the court to adopt her.[16] Laura lived with the Pollocks as their daughter for some time,[17] [18] though by 1920, and possibly as early as 1915[19], she was back with her biological parents.[20] Belle and Davis also had their own child, a girl named Marion, who was born in July of 1912.[21]
By 1920, the Pollocks had been living in the Sacramento area for a couple of years, though they were most likely not the happiest of years for the family of three. Belle filed for divorce from Davis in June of 1920, citing adultery as the reason for separation.[22] Belle remarried to John Robert (J.R.) Earl a year later in August of 1921.[23]
The new Earl family had relocated south to Los Angeles by 1922, where J.R. worked in construction.[24] They remained there until 1927, at which point J.R. moved back to his hometown of Santa Maria.[25] Belle and Marion followed later that year.[26] They all quickly settled in, with Marion graduating from Santa Maria High School in 1930.[27]
By 1931, Belle and J.R. had moved out of town to the Sisquoc area.[28] Though they moved several more times during their time in the Santa Maria area, publicly their life appears to have been very quiet and family focused.
After spending several decades in the Santa Maria area, Belle passed away in 1956 after a lengthy illness. In addition to leaving behind J.R. and Marion, Belle also had a grandson and great granddaughter at the time of her passing.[1]
Then vs. Now
Santa Maria, California
In 1930, census records have the Earls living at 513 W Park Ave, a few blocks behind the Santa Maria Inn near the heart of town. The property now appears to be an apartment building. (Google Maps)
Santa Maria, California
J.R.’s draft card from 1942 shows that he and Belle were living on Central Ave. The home that is currently at this address appears to be the same home. Built in 1930, the house currently has four bedrooms and is located near the center of town. (Realtor.com)
Santa Maria, California
The 1950 census shows Belle and J.R. living on Tunnell St, several blocks north of their previous home. The structure that is currently at this address appears to be a duplex. (Realtor.com)
Citations
[1] Mrs. Belle Earl Obituary. Santa Maria Times, 6 December 1956, pg 7
[2] Illinois, Madison County births, marriages, deaths, 1813-1916, Family Search, online <www.familysearch.org>, birth record entry for Belle Edna Merritt, accessed 12 January 2025
[3] Ancestry.com. Illinois, U.S., Marriage Index, 1860-1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
[4] "Illinois, Births and Christenings, 1824-1940", Family Search, online <www.familysearch.com>, birth record entry for Clara Merritt, 1886, accessed 13 January 2025
[5] 1900 U.S. Census, population schedule, Township of Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California, Enumeration District [ED] 109, sheet 30, dwelling 796, family 822, William I Rees household; National Archives & Records Administration publication T623, digital image, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed 12 January 2025).
[6] "California, County Marriages, 1849-1957", Family Search, online <www.familysearch.com>, marriage license entry for Thomas Davis Pollock and Belle Edna Merritt, 20 June 1904, accessed 14 January 2025
[7] “Saticoy Siftings.” Morning Free Press, 5 June 1907, pg 1
[8] 1910 U.S. Census, population schedule, Township of Santa Paula, Ventura County, California, Enumeration District [ED] 214, sheet 2A, dwelling 19, family 20, Thomas D Pollock household; National Archives & Records Administration publication T624, digital image, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed 14 January 2025).
[9] “Saticoy: Walnut Harvest Now in Progress.” Ventura Free Press, 23 September 1910, pg 6
[10] “Saticoy.” Morning Free Press, 2 December 1910, pg 8
[11] “Saticoy: Little Valley Town is Thriving Now.” Ventura Free Press, 23 February 1912, pg 6
[12] “Saticoy: Beans Coming in 8,000 Sacks a Day.” Ventura Free Press, 27 September 1912, pg 6
[13] “Copious Downpour on Saticoy Lands.” Ventura Free Press, 20 February 1918, pg 1
[14] “Saticoy Bean Acreage is Increased; Everybody Busy.” Morning Free Press, 9 May 1918, pg 1
[15] “Child Adopted.” Los Angeles Times, 16 April 1911, pg 18
[16] “Child, 3, Abandoned on Street in Rain, Adopted.” Los Angeles Herald, 16 April 1911, pg 10
[17] “Saticoy.” Ventura Free Press, 9 June 1911, pg 6
[18] “Saticoy Sayings.” Ventura Free Press, 17 January 1913, pg 2
[19] “Saticoy.” Ventura Free Press, 5 August 1915, pg 2
[20] 1920 U.S. Census, population schedule, Township of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, Enumeration District [ED] 235, sheet 1A, dwelling 1, family 1, Conrad F Dietrich household; National Archives & Records Administration publication T625, digital image, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed 22 January 2025).
[21] "California, Births and Christenings, 1812-1988", Family Search, online <www.familysearch.com>, Delayed Certificate of Birth for Marian Mildred Pollock, 25 January 1945, accessed 20 January 2025
[22] “June Brings Rush for Altar and Divorce Court.” The Sacramento Bee, 2 June 1920, pg 1
[23] "California, County Marriages, 1849-1957", Family Search, online <www.familysearch.com>, marriage license entry for John Robert Earl and Belle Edna Pollock, 17 August 1921, accessed 21 January 2025
[24] Voter Registrations, California State Library, Los Angeles County, California, 1900-1968, Ancestry.com, online <www.ancestry.com>, Index of Registry of Voters,1922, accessed 27 January 2025
[25] "United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", Family Search, online <www.familysearch.com>, Entry for John Robert Earl, from 1917 to 1918, accessed 22 January 2025
[26] “Local News.” Santa Maria Times, 25 June 1927, pg 3
[27] “High School to Graduate 26 Thursday.” Santa Maria Times, 15 January 1930, pg 6
[28] “Bride to be is Honored.” Santa Maria Times, 12 December 1931, pg 5
Notes
Illustrations on this site are not actual representations of the individuals written about, their homes, or anything else factual.
Exact addresses are not included for any place that appears to be, or could potentially be, in current use as a personal residence.
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