Ernest Edward Lightcap was my great-grandfather. He was married three times (even though his obituary only acknowledges two).

His first wife was Blanche Payne.  They married January 2, 1900, in St Joseph, Michigan.  He was 20.  She died December 29, 1903, of Bright’s disease.  They had no children.

In 1905, he married Henrietta Doose (my great-grandmother).  They had two sons, Paul and Albert.  She died on Sept 18, 1917.  According to her death certificate, she died after taking medication to induce an abortion.  I wish I knew more about Henrietta and her family.  Unfortunately, the family didn’t talk about her.  The only information that I have about her I have found through census records and her death certificate.

On July 10, 1918, Ernest married their housekeeper, Susan Lensing.  They didn’t have any children.

He lived in a variety of states, including Indiana, Illinois, Massachusetts, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.  A majority of these moves happened within a 25 year period of time.

I’m not sure where I got this obituary; possibly from my mom or from photo albums my dad received from his Aunt Marjorie or his mom.  I have no citation, but it was probably published in the Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, Iowa).

Transcription of obituary:

Ernest E. Lightcap, 67, formerly of 2846 Jackson street, died at 6:30 Monday evening in St. Anthony home after an illness that had its inception last May.

The body may be viewed at the Didesch funeral home, after 7 o’clock Tuesday evening. The funeral will be from Didesch’s to Holy Ghost church Thursday morning, with the mass at 9 o’clock. Burial will be in Mount Calvary cemetery. Born in North Judson, Ind., April 3, 1879, he had resided in Dubuque for the last quarter of a century and was stationary engineer at the B and I building during that time. He was a member of Holy Ghost church and the Holy Name society. Mr. Lightcap was married to Harriet E. Doosey in 1905, and she preceded him in death. In 1918, he was married to Susie Lansing. Survivors are his wife, Mrs. Susie Lightcap, Dubuque; two sons, Paul G. Lightcap and A.W. Lightcap, both of this city, and four grandsons, Harold, Thomas, William, and Teddy Lightcap. Besides his first wife and parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Gary, and a granddaughter, Alice.