FLYNN, Ruth Catherine and her mother

Katie L. Flynn

These two photos of Ruth Catherine FLYNN and her mother Katie L. FLYNN were located yesterday in an  outdoor antique "fest" in Liverpool New York, near Syracuse. I bought both photos, just to make certain they stayed together.

I will start with the mother. Kathie L. Flynn was born in 1861 in Washington Iowa under her maiden name of Katherine L. CRITZ. Her father Joseph Critz was French, and her mother Sophia Gimbel was born in Ohio. She married John Burke Flynn in Davenport Iowa in Sept 1882. 

Katherine died in Nov 1959. John Flynn died 1939.  Both Katherine Flynn and her husband John are buried in Saint Ambrose cemetery in Des Moines Iowa.

Ruth Catherine Flynn, 4 mo old

Ruth Flynn was born around 1899 in Des Moines Iowa. She appears on various census records:

1910 Federal Census for Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, 936 Fifth Street

FLYNN, John B., head, 52, born in Canada (Eng) of Irish parents, occupation appears to say "Mining."

FLYNN, Catherine, wife, 48, mother of 6 children - 3 living, born in Iowa of French and Ohio parents

FLYNN, Roy J., son, 22, born in Iowa, occupation Bookkeeper in a Newspaper Office

FLYNN, Ruth, daughter, 12, born in Iowa, 

FLYNN, Dorothy, daughter, 5, born in Iowa

In 1917 Ruth K. Flynn appears in her High School yearbook. She attended West Des Moines Community School.

(click photo for larger image)

1920 Federal Census for Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, 936 Fifth Street

FLYNN, John B., head, 62, immigrated from Canada in 1859, nat in 1864, occup Real Estate agent

FLYNN, Katherine L., wife, 57

FLYNN, Ruth K., daughter, 21, single, works as stenographer at Dept of Justice

FLYNN, Dorothy, daughter, 14

Ruth Flynn married John P. BELLER on 29 Oct 1923 at Saint Andrew Cathedral in Des Moines. The certificate indicates that her parents are John B. Flynn and Katherin L. Critz. The groom was born in Burlington Wisconsin to parents Frank Beller and Mary Cunningham.

1930 Federal Census for Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, 545 Waterbury Circle

BELLER, John P., head, 39, born in Wisc., occupation "proprietor" in the Finance industry

BELLER, Ruth K., wife, 31

BELLER, Mary K., daughter, 3y 8m

1940 Federal Census for Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, 4216 Ingersoll Ave.

BELLER, John P., head, 49, born in Wisc., occupation "Owner of Automobile Finance Comp."

BELLER, Ruth K., wife, 41

BELLER, Mary K., daughter, 13

BELLER, Barbara Ann, daughter, 8

Ruth's daughter Barbara Ann Beller was the subject of this interesting insert in the Des Moines Register, Mar 6, 1941. Seems she was studying out of the very same physical book that the Vice President of the United States had used.  (Click image for larger version.)

Barbara Ann married Joseph Anthony Vento in 1955 and lived in Colorado.

Older daughter Mary K. Beller married Channing Walker and lived in Washington DC, owing to his position in the Interstate Commerce Commission.


Ruth Flynn-Beller died July 1979 in Des Moines.