| Francis Leo Ebbitt, Sr. Minnie Louise (Elliott) Ebbitt |
| Francis Leo Ebbitt, Sr. Minnie Louise (Elliott) Ebbitt |
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| Francis Leo Ebbitt, Sr. was born September 15, 1902 to James Ebbitt and Catherine "Ma" (McFarland) Ebbitt in Wilkensburg, Pennsylvania. He was an avid fan of football and baseball, playing sandlot for many years. Minnie Louise Elliott was born February 19, 1905 to James Elliott and Emma (Roher) Ebbitt in Post Perry, Pennsylvania. Francis and Minnie were married February 16, 1922 before the Justice of the Peace in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. They had two children, Catherine "Kay" and Francis Leo Ebbitt, Jr. At the time of their marriage, Francis was a truck driver. At the age of 29, around 1931, Francis, Sr. suffered a stroke due to a clot in his brain and was rendered partially paralyzed. He lost all speech capabilities, as well. During this time, Minnie worked to support the family and Kay spent much of her time caring for her baby brother, Frank, Jr.. Approximately two-and-a-half years after the stroke, still partially paralyzed, and discontented with the medical treatment he was receiving, Francis sought treatment from a neighborhood chiropractor. In time, he regained his speech and reversed the paralysis in his body. He was able to return to work, and did so, going to work at the Carnegie Steel Mill as a crane operator. In 1941, at the age of 36, and seven months pregnant with her third child, Minnie contracted pneumonia and died, losing the baby as well. Kay and Frank were approximately 18 and 11, and again, Kay found herself in the position of caring for her younger brother. Francis, Sr. remarried in 1943 to Ann Seuheinberg. They would divorce approximately six months later. Francis Leo Ebbitt, Sr. died in Braddock, Pennsylvania on February 11, 1952 at the age of 50. The cause of death was phlebitis, a clot in the vein of his leg. He is buried at Braddock Catholic Cemetery, Braddock Hills, Pennsylvania. Minnie Louise (Elliott) Ebbitt died in Braddock, Pennsylvania on January 3, 1941 of pneumonia. She is also buried at Braddock Catholic Cemetery. |