A short-time and complicated Fortean—but a history rich with stories, conundrums, and ironies. This one’s going to be long. Grab something to drink, sit down, and read a while.
Gomer David Bath was born 22 February 1899 to David Bath and the former Julia Sullionec in Illinois. Both of his parents had also been born in Illinois, as well, his father’s family coming from the United Kingdrom, his mother’s from Ohio and New York. He was the second son. His father was working as a baker. By 1910, David was at an insurance agency and his older brother Lee worked on a variety show; the family, like Thayer’s—also from Illinois, Thayer born just a few years later—was artistically inclined, with David serving as director of his church’s choir for twenty years. The family was enlarged by two daughters, Ruby (b. 1902) and Helen (b. 1912). Gomer went to Canton High School, where he was on the debate team, a musical director for the school theater, and president of the Athletic, Literary and Musical Association. He graduated in 1917 and, with a scholarship, went to Lake Forest College. Gomer was a private in the Students Army Training Corps during the Great War.
Judging by census records, the family situation was economically difficult as of 1920. In addition to the three kids—Lee, the older brother, had moved out—there was David, and Julia, Julia’s mother. The family was renting their home. Neither of the parents, nor the grandparent, was working—only Ruby, who was a teacher, and Gomer, who was a traveling musical salesman. (Not Harold Hill, surely!) Apparently his work took him at least to Paducah, Kentucky, because that’s where his high school’s alumni committee found him in 1920. Bath supposedly also attended Know College before graduating from the University of Illinois in 1922. By 1930, he was married with two children, Robert and Mary (ages 6 and 1, putting his marriage shortly after his graduation). Gomer was working as an organist for a theater.
The late 1930s were a trying time for Bath. His mother died in 1936, and his father moved in with Helen, the youngest daughter. In 1939, Homer’s wife died, from accidental poisoning. The following year, David—his father—died. The 1940 census, though, does have him remarried, to a woman named Dorothy, who was either twelve or twenty-one years his junior. (It’s hard to say if her age was 29 or 20; Gomer was 41.) I don’t know anything about her, though.The city directories had them together as later as 1959.
Gomer David Bath was born 22 February 1899 to David Bath and the former Julia Sullionec in Illinois. Both of his parents had also been born in Illinois, as well, his father’s family coming from the United Kingdrom, his mother’s from Ohio and New York. He was the second son. His father was working as a baker. By 1910, David was at an insurance agency and his older brother Lee worked on a variety show; the family, like Thayer’s—also from Illinois, Thayer born just a few years later—was artistically inclined, with David serving as director of his church’s choir for twenty years. The family was enlarged by two daughters, Ruby (b. 1902) and Helen (b. 1912). Gomer went to Canton High School, where he was on the debate team, a musical director for the school theater, and president of the Athletic, Literary and Musical Association. He graduated in 1917 and, with a scholarship, went to Lake Forest College. Gomer was a private in the Students Army Training Corps during the Great War.
Judging by census records, the family situation was economically difficult as of 1920. In addition to the three kids—Lee, the older brother, had moved out—there was David, and Julia, Julia’s mother. The family was renting their home. Neither of the parents, nor the grandparent, was working—only Ruby, who was a teacher, and Gomer, who was a traveling musical salesman. (Not Harold Hill, surely!) Apparently his work took him at least to Paducah, Kentucky, because that’s where his high school’s alumni committee found him in 1920. Bath supposedly also attended Know College before graduating from the University of Illinois in 1922. By 1930, he was married with two children, Robert and Mary (ages 6 and 1, putting his marriage shortly after his graduation). Gomer was working as an organist for a theater.
The late 1930s were a trying time for Bath. His mother died in 1936, and his father moved in with Helen, the youngest daughter. In 1939, Homer’s wife died, from accidental poisoning. The following year, David—his father—died. The 1940 census, though, does have him remarried, to a woman named Dorothy, who was either twelve or twenty-one years his junior. (It’s hard to say if her age was 29 or 20; Gomer was 41.) I don’t know anything about her, though.The city directories had them together as later as 1959.