The research of the SPLADY family has given us more questions than answers.  The following is the story of Frederick Spleda and his arrival to America from Germany, and his descendants.

INTRODUCTION :
In our search for Frederick Spleda or Splady we found the emigrant indexes of 1842 that showed him coming from Hanover, Germany. Various census list him being from Bavaria. Although the index was found, the original record which list the specific information that we need is missing and therefore, his traveling companions were not located. After searching endlessly for passenger list from the two ports in Germany, Bremen and Hamberg, we find records were destroyed in the war. Since in Europe, records of births and deaths were keep by the individual churches rather the government agencies and we don’t know which church or in which town to search for records, we are at a complete halt. As the result of wars and political realignments, the internal and external boundaries of Germany have changed many, many times. Place names and county, province, and state jurisdictions have also changed, often more than once. The territory of Germany has varied considerably over the centuries. Until 1871 Germany consisted of numerous, independent kingdoms, duchies, principalities, and states whose borders often changed and merged. These changes often make it hard to determine which archive has the particular records needed. In 1871 all states except the Austrian states were consolidated into the German Empire under the leadership of Presussen.

 
He was born about 1838, Bavaria, (or Hanover), Germany. He died January 15, 1889,  in Terre Haute, IN and was buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.
 
Passenger and Immigration List Index, 1538-1940
Spleda, Frederick Place: Indiana
Year: 1842-1852
 Primary individual: Spleda, Frederick
 Source Name:  An Index to Indiana Naturalization Records

This early record shows Frederick’s name as Spleda, later he uses Splady.  He probably made the change at the time of his naturalization.

He first married MARY J. CARTER on January 30, 1860 in Vigo County, Indiana. They had five children. This same year, he appeared on the census living with Henry Sisty, age 23, and Lydia Sisty Age 20.  At this time he was about the same age. It is undetermined if he was simply renting from them or if they were relatives of his or Mary’s.  Since he was married during the first month of the year it is assumed he was married at the time of the census but she was not shown.

After Mary's death in 1867, at the age of 23 years and  7 months, he married again to  HARRIET BEACH October 28, 1868, daughter of MOSES BEACH and MARY SALTENBURY.

In 1889, he died at age 53 years, 4 months, 15 days. He is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Terre Haute, Indiana.
 
Children of  FREDERICK SPLEDA and MARY CARTER:

 i.   LUCINDA "LUCY" SPLADY, b. December 1, 1860, d. July 17, 1877, Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Terre Haute, IN.
ii.   CHARLES FREDERICK "FRED" SPLADY, b. 1862, Terre Haute, IN.; m. MILLIE TIEDEY, March 11, 1897, Vigo County, Indiana.
iii.  THOMAS SPLADY, b. 1863; d. 1867, at 4 years. 22 days.
 iv. MARY C. "MOLLY" SPLADY, b. 1864.
 
 

Lucy was born December 1, 1860.  After her mother died and her father remarried, she lived with Harriet and Frederick until she died at age 16 years, 8 months, and 16 days on July 17, 1877.  She is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Terre Haute, IN.
 

Son of Mary and Frederick, born in 1862, Terre Haute, IN. He is seen on the 1870 census at the age of 8 living with Harriet and Fred Splady, after the death of his mother. At this time he goes by the name of Charles, his first name.

It is here our mystery begins,  the following information has been located for Charles (or C.) Frederick Splady. The information does not prove that the two are, in fact, one in the same.  This is the information as we found it.

1895-Cedar Rapids, IA
In 1895 Fred is not found in the city directory in Terre Haute, Indiana.

1895-Cedar Rapids, Linn Co. Iowa
But on May 07, 1895 DOUGLAS EMERALD  SPLADY is born, Cedar Rapids, Linn Co. Iowa to the parents of C. Frederick Splady and Nevada Douglass according to the attached birth certificate. [See Douglas Emerald].

1896-Terre Haute, IN
Then in 1896 he is again listed in city directory in Terre Haute IN as C. Frederick Splady, Carpenter, Cliffe & Williams, Co. 1101 S. 3rd St.  Terre Haute, IN. By now his father has died (1889) and he has started using Frederick rather than Charles.  If this is the same Frederick, what happened in Iowa that brought him back to Indiana, and where is Nevada and child Douglas Emerald?
 
1897-Terre Haute, IN
Fred Splady married on March 11, 1897 to MILLIE TIEDEY in Vigo County, Indiana.   Records in the back.
 
1900-Terre Haute, IN
On the 1900 census he appeared still married to Tillie, at this time he is 38 years old, she is 30, and  Anna Lalr, age 24 lived with them.  We do not know who this Anna is, probably a cousin, or relative of Tillie.

1901-Terre Haute, IN
In 1901, a year later, the city directory list C. Fred Splady Contractor & Builder, Resident, 500 Gilbert Ave. So, we see they have moved from 3rd Street to Gilbert Avenue.

1902-Minneapolis, MN
In 1902 there is no listing in the city directory in Indiana,  but this same year  an advertisement appeared in bold writing for SPLADY, ALBEE & SMITH, (Chas. F. Splady, James Albee, Harvey B. Smith) General Contractors, 1022 Plymouth Bldg. in the Minneapolis City Directories. SPLADY, Chas. F. (Splady, Albee & Smith) r. (residence) 2704 Clinton Ave. In a short period of time he went from Indiana (assuming there is only Charles Frederick Splady) to Minneapolis and established a business with partners.

SPLADY, Chas. F., Douglas E., brklyr. (Brick layer) b. 2704 Clinton Ave.
We note that Douglas E. is a bricklayer in business with Frederick.

1910-Minneapolis, MN
In the 1910  city directory he is shown living at 135 E. 33rd St., Minneapolis, Mn, and list his occupation as building supertenant.  He is not listed in the 1900 city listing.

1920-Minneapolis, MN
Fred’s address on back of picture from Douglas A. was Clinton Ave., So. Minneapolis, MN in 1920.

The name was not found in the history of  Hennepin Co., written in 1881.

Third child of Frederick Spleda and Mary Carter: Born in 1863 and died at the age of 4 years, 22 days in 1867.  He is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Terre Haute, IN.

Fourth child of Frederick Spleda and Mary Carter:  Born in 1864. She appeared on the 1870 census at the 6 living with her father Frederick Spleda and his second wife Harriet. She married JOSEPH C. TRACY January 21, 1886.

Children of MARY SPLADY and JOSEPH TRACY are:

i. CASSEUS TRACY, m. HELEN UNKNOWN.  They had no children.
ii. EUGENE TRACY.  No information is known about him.
 
 

Frederick Spleda remarried after the death of Mary Carter.  He married HARRIET BEACH October 28, 1868, daughter of MOSES BEACH and MARY SALTENBURY.  >From our research and the stories told about Harriet.  She was a strong woman, the center and foundation of the family and maintained the position of matriarch after the death of Frederick Spleda.
 
Children of FREDERICK SPLADY and HARRIET BEACH are:

 vi.   FRANK EDWARD SPLADY, b. August 15, 1869; d. March 28, 1957, Terre Haute, Ind.
vii.   HARRY SPLADY. Died in his 20's.
 viii. GEORGE ALBERT SPLADY, b. 1872; d. July 10, 1912, bur. Highland Cemetery, Terre Haute, IN.
 ix.    SARAH G. SPLADY, b. 1876.
  x.   JOSEPH H. SPLADY, b. 1878.
 xi.   CHARLES HERBERT SPLADY, b. December 1880, Terre Haute, IN; d. 1957.

First child of Frederick and Harriet. Born August 15, 1869 and died on March 28, 1957, Terre Haute, Ind. Appeared age 11 on 1880 census living with his parents Harriet and Fred. He married NELLIE. He played a major role in the Splady Family.  Everyone seemed to know him or know of him.  At one time he is listed as a bicycle Manufacturer.
 
  Children of FRANK SPLADY and NELLIE are:
  i.  LOUISE SPLADY, b. 1890-1898; m. UNKNOWN KENNEDY.
 ii.  MARY GERTRUDE SPLADY, b. November 23, 1894.
 iii. FRANK EDWARD SPLADY, b. 1890-1898, Terre Haute, IN.; d. May 17,    1908, Terre Haute Highland Cemetery.  Died at the age of 7.

Second Child of Harriet and Frederick, Harry's date of birth is unknown.  We know he died in his early 20's. From one picture of him, we gather he was a cyclist. .
 

Third child of Frederick and Harriet. Born in 1872 and died July 10, 1912, buried Highland Cemetery, Terre Haute, IN.
He married ROSE WALL August 12, 1894. Occasionally we have seen her maiden name appear as "Wells."   On 1900 census George Albert was 27, lived with Rose, listed children: Nellie, Geo. Living with them was Thomas Lowe age 33, Martha Lowe age 33, (possibly aunt & uncle), Roy age 7, Mildred age 3, Eva age 4 mo.

In 1901 he was a very prominent restaurant owner and was listed in the city directory at 112 S. 4th Street, residence was 329 S. 2nd. "The Splady Restaurant."
   Children of GEORGE SPLADY and ROSE WALL are:

     i. NELLIE SPLADY, b. August 29, 1895.
    ii. FRANK ALBERT SPLADY, b. 1908, Terre Haute; d. 1938, East Chicago, Indiana, buried Terre Haute.
  iii. GEORGE LEO SPLADY 
  iv. GERTRUDE SPLADY, died as child.
   v. FREDERICK SPLADY, d. in about 1920
  vi. MADELINE SPLADY.

Fourth  child of Frederick and Harriet.  Born in 1876.  Appeared on 1880 census as age 4, a picture of Hattis Splady as an infant is inscribed to great aunt Sarah.  So we assume she did reach maturity.
 

Fifth  child of Frederick and Harriet.  He was born in 1878 and appeared on 1880 census as age 2.  It is assumed that he died shortly after.
 

Sixth  child of Frederick and Harriet. Born in December 1880, Terre Haute, IN and died in  1957. He went by the nickname "Bert." He married LAVADA RICE in 1927.  He appeared on the 1900 census in Terre Haute living with Harriet.
 
Child of CHARLES HERBERT SPLADY and LAVADA RICE is:
               i. RALPH SPLADY, b. August 23, 1929, in Honey Creek Township, Vigo County.
 

Child of CHARLES Frederick SPLADY and NEVADA DOUGLASS is:

i. DOUGLAS EMERALD SR. SPLADY, b. May 07, 1895, Cedar Rapids, Linn Co. Iowa; d. May 29, 1982, Golden Valley, MN.

DOUGLAS EMERALD SR. SPLADY
Was born May 07, 1895 in Cedar Rapids, Linn Co. Iowa.   He married  GULLAH BERG September 15, 1922 in Minneapolis, Hennepin, MN, daughter of RUDOLPH BERG and IDA.

Douglas Allen states his father to be an 'only child' and the child of Charles F. and Nevada Splady.  A copy of the birth certificate is in my records. It can be noted that it is a delayed birth certificate by 47 years, which was not uncommon at the time. Most likely the certificate was obtained for the purpose of a social security card. We have not found the marriage license to verify the date of marriage but it was not found in Linn County in 1893 or 1894.

We are told by Douglas Alan that his grandfather is the brother of Frank Splady.

Gullah was listed as a housewife on Douglas Allen's birth certificate.  Residence 3632 Lyndale Ave. 30 yrs. old at birth on July 11, 1924.

Member of Ark Lodge AF and AM 176 Zurah Shrine and the American Legion..
Douglas was a building contractor, like his father before him.
He died May 29, 1982 in Golden Valley, MN  at age 87 in Weldwood Nursing Home, Golden Valley, MN.
 

         Child of DOUGLAS SPLADY and GULLAH BERG is:

           i. DOUGLAS ALLEN SPLADY, b. July 11, 1924, Minneapolis, Hennepin, MN.

Generation No. 3 continues:

Second child of FRANK and NELLIE SPLADY
 
Was born November 23, 1894.  She married ROSCO RICE April 18, 1914.

Children of MARY SPLADY and ROSCO RICE are:
i. RUTH RICE.  She married RICHARD HAAS.
 Children of RUTH RICE and RICHARD HAAS are:

 i. ROY HAAS, had two children, names unknown.

 ii. SHARON HAAS, m. UNKNOWN NELSON.

ii. ULNA MAE RICE. Died at an early age according to Ruth Haas
 
iii. WILLARD RICE married VIRGINIA SCHURTZ.
 Child is:
  i. DAVID RICE David lives at Horace St., Jasonville, Ind.

ii. ROSE MARIE RICE married a man named MITCHELL.
Children of ROSE RICE and MITCHELL are:
i. CHRISTOPHER MITCHELL.
 
ii. UNKNOWN MITCHELL.
 
iii. JOHN ROSCOE RICE, married JOYCE.  Now lives in Terre Haute, Ind.
 

  

Born August 29, 1895, and  married  EMERY SERVAIS, December 24, 1915

Frank was born 1908 in Terre Haute, and died 1938 in East Chicago, Indiana, buried Terre Haute.  He married ELSIE BEARD, daughter of JOHN BEARD.  They separated when the children were young and Frank raised the boys under he died of a heart attach at the age of 30.  The boys then went to live with their grandmother Rose.

Children of FRANK SPLADY and ELSIE BEARD are:
i. MARSHALL SPLADY, b. June 26, 1927.
ii. DONALD SPLADY.

Was born June 26, 1927.  He and his brother lived with his father Frank from the age of 4 when his parents separated, until 10 when Frank died.  He then lived with his grandmother Rose, until about 14 when his mother came for him and Donald.  He joined the Navy at the age of 16. He married  MARY ROSE BAHLEDA October 25, 1947, daughter of Frank and Mary BAHLEDA.  They lived in Griffith, Indiana and he worked for Inland Steel.  After retirement they moved to Highland, Indiana where Marshall cared for his wife Mary until she lost the battle to Cancer October 6, 1998.

Child of MARSHALL SPLADY and MARY BAHLEDA is:
i. REAGAN JOHN SPLADY, b. February 07, 1950, East Chicago, Indiana.

  

Born, 1929.  Served in the Navy searching for a better life but only grew distance from his mother and stepfather but remained close with Marshall.  He never married and died of lung cancer.
 

 
Little information is known about George.  It is rumored he spent most of his years in Michigan City Prison for possibly murder;  eventually he showed up at the door of Donald Splady looking for a place to live. He abused alcohol and died of cancer while living across the street from Donald in Terre Haute.

 Date of birth and death unknown
 

Died at about age 20, about 1920, shot & killed by East Chicago Police when jumping over a fence.  It is rumored without proof that he might have been with his older brother George at the time.

  Date of birth and death unknown.
 

Ralph was born August 23, 1929, in Honey Creek Township, Vigo County. Served 4 years in USAF 1948 to 1952. Married Roseanna Stevens of Fairbanks Twp, Sullivan Co, on December 17, 1953 and divorced in 1960. He married PATRICIA ANN TRIBBETT BOYLES on March 12, 1961. Patricia had two daugher, Sherry Kay and Bethany Jo Boyles.

Children of RALPH SPLADY and Roseanna are:

i. TINA MARIE SPLADY, b. 12-24-1955 married Wayne CALHOUN.
 
ii. SUSAN RENEE SPLADY, b. 8-1-1957. married HOLLIS.
  i. Jennifer Hollis, has one daughter
  ii. Sam Hollis
 
iii. KEVIN LEE SPLADY, b. 1/15/1965 in Terre Haute, IN., married Deena and lives in Jacksonville IL, no children.
 
iv. AMY LOUISE SPLADY,  b. 7/24/1970 in Terre Haute, IN. She married Edward Sollards in 1994 and they have
two children:
  i. MARY JOYCE SPLADY.
  ii. TERRY ALLEN SPLADY.

Children of RALPH SPLADY and Patricia are:
i. LISA ANN SPLADY, b. 8/6/1992, in Terre Haute, born premature and has cerebral Palsy.

ii. JESSEE LEE SPLADY b. 4/3/88,  (adopted)

Born July 11, 1924 in Deaconess Hosp, City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, MN.
 
He married YVONNE MARY LARSON August 21, 1948 in Cannon Falls, MN, daughter of CARL LARSON and LARUE RUDOLPH.

"At the end of WWII, I was stationed at Quonset Port, RI, one day one of my friends told me he just saw a guy in chow line wearing my jacket.  I said, "Impossible, I've got my jacket."  This was a huge complex and I tried for several days to find the sailor by the name of Splady. - no luck."  Some 50 years later it is revealed the other Splady was Marshall Splady. who had also heard the ‘other-guy’ story and was doing the same search.

Children of DOUGLAS SPLADY and YVONNE LARSON are:

i. CHARLES DOUGLAS SPLADY, b. September 03, 1949, Albert Lea, MN
ii. MARY LEANN SPLADY, b. December 04, 1950, Mankato, MN.
iii. TERRI SUE SPLADY, b. April 25, 1955, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
 

Born September 03, 1949 in Albert Lea, MN.  He married (1) BARBARA BENTON.  He married (2) LAUREN TERESA MEYER February 20, 1994 in San Francisco, CA, daughter of SEYMOUR LEONARD and PATRICIA FALK. He is currently living in Alameda, California.

       Children of CHARLES SPLADY and LAUREN MEYER are:

         i. BRADLEY BENTON SPLADY, b. November 08, 1988.
      ii. AARON DOUGLAS MEYER SPLADY, b. March 22, 1995.
 

Born December 04, 1950 in Mankato, MN.  She married MICHAEL JOHN SCHMID August 23, 1950 in Brainerd, MN, son of JOHN SCHMID and DOROTHY WIGGINS.
Although married, Mary Leann Splady maintains her maiden name in order to carry on the Splady name.  She works as a Para-legal and her husband is a teacher.

Children of MARY SPLADY and MICHAEL SCHMID are:

    i. JOHN DOUGLAS SCHMID, b. March 05, 1977, Bemidji, MN.
  ii. JOSEPH ANDREW SCHMID, b. December 18, 1978, Bemidji, MN.
  iii. ANNA LARUE  SPLADY SCHMID, b. May 09, 1981, Bemidji, MN.

Born April 25, 1955 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  She married HAROLD "SKIP"  RAYMOND FINN July 26, 1980 in Brainerd, MN. Public Health Nurse by profession. Her husband is an attorney by profession.

Children of TERRI SPLADY and HAROLD FINN are:
 i. JAMIE ANN FINN, b. October 21, 1982, Bemidji, MN.
 ii. JACOB CARL FINN, b. November 20, 1984, Bemidji, MN.

 

Thank you for visiting Splady Homepage.  If you have any knowledge of the Splady family or if you are researching the same family, please contact:   Reagan Splady.

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