The Official Family Tree of Clyde Budd & Violet Marshall Budd
 

 

 
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Clyde Budd's Own Words                                   Clyde Budd's Profile   |   Clyde's Photo Gallery
   

The following words were written personally by Clyde Paul Budd in 1974 regarding his childhood memories & life at that point.

"As I remember, I was about 3 years old when my mother died. My father's sister, my Aunt Zoda Mae Fitton, took me with her to Indiana to live with her and her husband, Willard John Fitton in Silver Lake, Indiana. Uncle Willard was the cashier of the Farmer's Bank of Silver Lake at that time.

In 1910, Uncle Willard and Aunt Zoda moved to Indianapolis, Indiana. He went in the automobile business. He started with the Hupmobile Agency. They also sold bicycles.

In 1913, Willard owned a parts store and later moved to 303 N. Capital Ave, which at that times was 'Automobile Row". Willard had the State Agency for several makes of cars. The KING automobile line, Parton Palmer, National, Sexon Delivery Wagon and several other makes of cars.


Clyde Budd
1940


Actual Photo found in Clyde Budd's belongings.
Click on photo for detailed version.

  

In 1914-1915, Art Klein drove a King Racer in the Indianapolis race. Most of April, he kept it in Willard's show room as a drawing card for the race on May 30th. It was from Art that I got the urge to be a race driver, of course this never came true. One thing I have never forgotten about Art Klein...He and I were walking down an alley behind the shop, when all at once a man and woman were fighting. He was pulling her hair and she was clawing at him. Well, Art jumped in to stop them and they both turned on Art. We both ran like the devil to get out of there in a hurry. Later Art was putting iodine on some scratches he had gotten trying to separate them and he told me "Never get mixed up in family affairs." Willard serviced electric cars. Ten to 12 would be brought in every night and he's put them on the charging lines, which I remember was a gang of lights on the wall.
 

I didn't go to Indianapolis with Aunt Zoda to live. I stayed in Silver Lake with Uncle Willard's parents, Mr. & Mrs. John Fitton. I always called them grandpa and grandma. Grandpa had a general store and was also president of the Farmers Bank of Silver Lake.

My brother Willard was less than 2 years old when our mother passed away. Grandfather and Grandmother Budd took Willard for awhile. Later he moved in with Rebecca Sarber Vail (Aunt Becky). She later separated from Vail. Willard was with Becky for 3-4 years. Dad married Hazel Burk and Willard went to live with them at Sheppard, Michigan on a farm owned by Burk's. From this marriage, I have a half brother, Leo. Last word about him was that he was in San Diego, California, but one of our family has been able to locate him. Dad and Hazel separated but never divorced through the years, to my knowledge.

Dad later moved back to Lima, Ohio and went into the house moving business. He also raised houses and dug cellers. He retired from this in 1950. He passed away in 1956.

 

My Great Grandmother Susan (Funk) Sarber passed away on March 19, 1911 in Kalida, Ohio. We went there for the funeral. Uncle Willard Fitton owned a Pullman automobile which had no top. It had a special canvas covered that was fastened all around the body. There were 4 holes for your head to go through, with a choke strap to keep the water from running down your neck. As I was about 9 years old at the time, they had to wrap a towel around my neck before I could tighten the strap. We left Silver Lake, Indiana in the middle of the night. It rained all the way to Kalida, Ohio. At that time, all the roads were dirt. We finally arrived in Kalida the next night, about 100 miles from Silver Lake. We were soaking wet but glad to be there. I remember the old house and the grandfathers clock that kept me awake most of the night. Aunt Ella May Sarber Jenkins lived across the street from Great Grandmother.

I joined the Army in 1918 at the age of 16. Three weeks later, the war was over so they signed me up for 2 years. I served with the 15th Calvary and later with the 13th Calvary. I really got a break there doing guard duty just twice and kitchen duty once. The Army needed a bugler , so that was for me. In three months, I was drilling recruits and was made a Corporal. A few months later, I made Sergeant and relieved every non-com up to Sergeant Major. I was stationed at Ft. Russell, Wyoming and became buddies there with Harry Hawthorne. I hated to leave the service but wanted to get into the automobile business.

After getting out of the Army, I went to Michigan State Auto School. I then went back to Silver Lake and started working at the Ford Garage. In those days we got our cars from box cars (trains). Chasses were in one end and the bodies were in another. The rear axel was blocked high on one side, the front end was on the floor., no wheels, just the skeleton. We had to un-block them and man-handle them over to the door, slide down planks, put on wheels, then wheel them outside. It took four men with planks to hoist the body over the steering wheel and set them on the chassis. All fenders and other parts were in boxes so we towed them to the garage and put them together. Some major differences than how it is done today in 1974!  Later I started working for myself, which was probably a mistake.

  


Clyde at Ford Garage 1920's
In the meantime, I met Violet Fern Marshall and right away, I knew I should look no further. Loren Adams, Maybelle Perry, Violet and I borrowed Violet's dad's Model-T and drove to Michigan. We were all married at the same time on August 23, 1923. We have been together for over fifty years.
 


Clyde & Violet reciting vows at 50th Anniversary.

  

Mom (Violet) and I feel very LUCKY to have had 2 celebrations for our Golden Wedding Anniversary", one in Heber City, Utah, the other one in San Diego, California. Between the two, we received GREAT HONOR among our own family and any friends, and to think, all of our children (8) are still with us.

Mom has had her aches and pains. I have been real lucky so far. We put out a big garden this year. With yard work and my tinkering shop, it all keeps me busy. Mom (Violet) will be 68 on November 10th of this year (1974). I'm not sure if I'm 60 or 80 but will settle for 72 this year on October 25th.

Well, its now up to the younger bunch to keep the history going on the BUDD clan.


With Love,

Mom & Dad
Grandma & Grandpa
Great Grandma & Great Grandpa

 

Birth Order of Clyde & Violet Budd's:  
 Children   |   Grand Children   |   Great-Grand Children   |   Great-Great-Grand Children