Edward John Stolark
Born Edward Stolarski: June 26, 1908 Pittsburgh,
PA
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Married 1st: Frances "Nancy" Keim April 10,
1926 Wellsburg, WV
Married 2nd: Mary Simpson December 18, 1929, Washington,
D.C.
Married 3rd Ethel King March 16, 1933 La Plata
Maryland
Died: January 12, 1967, Washington, D.C.
Father: Stanislaw Stolarski b.1876
Mother: Walerya Bromberg b.1871
Wife: Mary E. Simpson b.1904 On April 11, 1928, Frances Stolarski filed petition for divorce for
"constantly and on days too numerous to mention, did by cruel and
barbarous treatment endanger the life of his wife...and did offer such
indignaties to the person of her..as to render her condition intolerable
and life burdonsome". On June 5th, the Sheriff of Allegheny County
reports that they have been unable to locate Edward Stolarski, not being
aware he had run off and joined the army. On June 18th, the
military discovered that he had lied on his enlistment papers and he was
dismissed from the army for being underage, returning to Milvale. On
June 22 1928, Frances reported he had been seen back in town, and the
Sheriff served his subpoena on June 23rd at the family home 304 Stanton
Ave, Millvale, and he was taken into custody. He posted $300 bond and
hearing set for October 10th. He was a no-show and hearing moved to
November 14th. He was a no-show and a formal order was set for Edward
to pay $5 a week to his wife and enter a bond for $500 or in default of
which be committed to the Allegheny County Workhouse. He was arrested
and commited that day. After 2 nights he was released, but soon
rearrested. On December 3rd, Frances asked that a guardian ad litem be
appointed to Edward for the court, being he was still under the age of
21 and currently in prison. His father was appointed guardian ad litem.
The divorce case was finally heard by the court on March 26, 1929 where
Frances testified, and the transcripts survive. On April 29th, the
court formally declared them divorced. Frances would later marry
Arcangelo Valenti, and their son Martin was renamed Martin Valenti.
Martin never spoke his entire life about his true father, and it was not
until he was on his death bed in 2015 that he revealed to his family
that Edward Stolark, Sr. was his true father. The is an extremely strong
resemblance between Martin and his half brother Edward Stolark, Jr.
Edward Stolark, two days after turning 21, and now legally permitted
to join the army, traveled to Washington, D.C. and once again enlisted
in the army. He was linked with Detachment Quartermaster Corps at the
Army War College and Private serial#6789105. In 1929, he met and
married Mary Simpson in Washinton, D.C. and they were married. By
December 1930 he was promoted to Corporal. He was on the Army War
College basketball squad, and continued to play and compete at a high
level as an amatuer golfer. He played in practically every local
tournament 1926-1938. In March 1931, he was of rank Sargent Second
Class, but by May was reduced in rank to Private. On September 12,
1931 he was discharged from the Army, and enrolled in Benjamin Franklin
Univesity with a major of "Commercial Sciences" (Accounting). Ethel
Lorraine King was also in same school pursuing a similar major.
Edward and his wife Mary Simpson Stolark appear in the 1932
Washington, D.C. directory living at 1514 17th NW Apt 105, but Edward
eloped in March 1933 to his classmate Ethel Lorraine King, bigamously.
He reports "no
previous marriages" on the marriage certificate. Presumably, this is
because she is pregnant and they know it; as in July 1933, a baby girl
was born who died sadly at three days old. It did not end his
relationship with Ethel Lorraine King or Mary Simpson, however; he
appears to have alternated living with one or the other over many years
across many states. In June 1933 Edward graduated with a bachelor's
degree, and June 1934 with a master's desgree from the same college.
Ethel graduated with bachelors from the same school this same year.
Around early 1936, he moved for work to Kilgore, Texas
Children with Frances
-Martin Stolark b.1927
Children with Mary
Edward Stolark b.1938
Joan Stolark b.1942
Children with Ethel
Infant Girl, died 3 days old July 31, 1933
Notes:
-Edward Stolarski was born in 1908 to Polish immigrant
parents in Pittsburgh, PA. He lived his childhood in a
small rowhouse in Milvale, PA quite poor with many siblings; his oldest
two siblings being born in Poland prior to immigration. At just age 17
he eloped to West Virginia and was married to Frances "Nancy" Keim who
was three years older and had a three year old from a previous
relationship with an unknown man who got her pregnant at 16 years old.
Nancy and Edward were not married long; he was a violent
alcoholic and in one encounter broke down Nancy's door with a fireman's
axe. On April 17, 1927 their only child, Martin was born in Milvale, PA,
and only two months later, Frances left Edward and they were separated
permanantly from that point on. Within a month, he traveled to Fort
Humpshey's Virginia and joined the army November 27, 1927, lying about
his age and changing his name from Stolarski to Stolark. The required
age to join the military was 21 and he was only 19. He served with the 29th engineers Headquarters & Service Platoon as
a Private. He was a bit troublesome it appears as he is reported
confined in the latter half of March 1928 through mid-April.
In August 1937, he is working for the Federal Tender Board (Oil company
oversight by federal government)
In January 1938, he is listed as working for the interior department, a
resident of Pennsylvania
Starting in February 1938, he appears now regulary competing in golf
tournmants in Texas
In September 1938, Edward and Mary had a son, Edward, Jr
In January 1939 they are listed as living in Kilgore, Texas
By August 1939, they were living in Longview, Texas
In February 1940, Ethel Stolark applies for her social security card and
lists Edward as her husband, and Edward names Ethel as his wife on his
application for Social Security Card
In March 1940 Edward Stolark was living in New Orleans, now as an
accountant for an oil company. He appears in the 1940 US Census in
New Orleans living with wife Ethel King Stolark. There is no sign
of Mary or his son Edward.
In October 1940, Edward is now living in Dallas, Texas working for Texa
Cotton growers association
In November 1940, notice appeared in the newspaper that a squirrel cape
was seized by the constable and was being put up for public auction
belonging to Mr. and Mrs Ed J. Stolark
In 1941, Edward applied with the government to be a commisioned reserve
officer
By January 1942 it appears Edward has reconnected with Mary and his son
Edward, as Mary Simpson Stolark becomes pregnant with their daughter
Joan, and in July, Ethel Stolark files for an annulment, citing fraud and bigamy.
In July and August 1942, Edward is living in Panama City, Florida
working for the Panama Shipbuilding Company
In October 30 1942 , Edward and Mary's daughter Joan was born in
Michigan
By January 1943, Mary and Edward and their children are living in Ponca
City, Oklahoma, and divorce was officially granted from Ethel, leaving
Edward with only one wife for the first time in nearly a decade.
Ethel passed away June 13, 1999 as Ethel Robertson, having no other
children other than 2 step-children with her second husband.
By October 1944, the family moved to Arlington, Virginia where they
lived until at least May 1945
By April 1948, Edward was living at 1021 Upton Rd, Glen Burnie, MD and
is reported that he is a "former chief accountant for Harundale" and
looking for a job and "Will go anywhere"
In September 1948, Mary Stolark appears in a Michigan newspaper as "of
1020 River Rd Marysville, Maryland". This was the home of her
brother-in-law Reuben Licker; she spent much time in Michigan away from
her alcoholic and abusive husband when necessary. A brother
reported that on one visit Edward finished an entire six-pack just
on the drive to the airport
In October 1948, Edward is reported working for the Price Electric
Company
In the 1950 US Census, Edward, Mary and their two children appear at
1021 Upton Rd in Glen Burnie. The family continued to live in Glen
Burnie for the rest of their lives. In 1963, he is listed as living
at 112 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd Glen Burnie
-Religion: Catholic
-Buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Sources:
-Birth Source: Birth Certificate, Death Cert, Social Security
Application, Tombstone
-Marriage Source: Washington, D.C. Marriage License
-Death Source: Death Certificate
-1930 US Census
-1920 US Census
-1910 US Census
-Trial Transcripts for two divorce proceedings
E-mail Joe C. for any additions/questions!