Individual Record 2837

Name}   Bitter, Marguerite J. Family History} Olson                 
  Title}   Race} White Sex} Female
Birth:   Date} Exa 21 Apr 1893 Place} Manhattan Borough, New York, New York
Marr.: Date} Exa 11 Aug 1919 Place}     , Los Angeles, California     (Link)
Marr.: Date} Exa 10 Nov 1927 Place}     , Los Angeles, California
Death: Date} Exa  9 Jan 1950 Place}     , Los Angeles, California
Burial: Date} Cir 12 Jan 1950 Place} Calvary Cemetery, East Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
  Grave Marker}  
Source 1} 1046=Birth record
Source 2} 1047=1900 USA cen
Source 3} 1430=Marriage rec
Source 4} 1042=1920 USA cen
Source 5} 2106=Voter record
Source 6} 988 = City directy
Source 7} 2099=Newspaper
Source 8} 2100=Divorce
Source 9} 2105=Marriage
Source 10} 2104=Newspaper
Source 11} 1048=1930 USA cen
Source 12}1453=1940 USA cen
Source 13}891 = Military rec
Source 14}2103=Passenger list
Source 15}2101=Newspaper
Source 16}2102=Obituary
Source 17}716 = Death record
Source 18}963 = Cemetery rec
Parents: } Lawrence J. Bitter and Louise M. Turgeon
        Household No.} 451
1st Household No.} 451 = Lewiston, Androscoggin, Maine
      Occupation 1} Pianist
       Occupation 2} Housewife
  Religion/Church} Roman Catholic
Spouses:   Prime} Romandy, Gounod
                              Clayton, Arthur Harrison
 Total Number of} 2
Notes:  Marguerite J. Bitter was born 21 Apr 1893 in the Borough of Manhattan, New York.  Her parents were Lawrence J. Bitter and Louise M. Turgeon.  In the 1900 U.S. census, Marguarte I., 2, was living with her parents at 166 Holland Street, Lewiston, Maine.  Her mother Louise M., 25, was head of the household, and her father Lawrence, 27, was a halftoner (one who makes halftones from images).  Minnie L. Britton, 23, was a boarder in the home.
Marguerite's family moved to California at some point in time, and are not found in the 1910 U.S. census.  Marguerite married Gounod Romandy, a violinist, on 11 Aug 1919 in Los Angeles County, California.

In the 1920 U.S. census, Marguerite J., 21, and her husband Gounod Romandy, 26, were living in the home of her parents, Lawrence J., 45, and Louise M. Bitter, 43, at 1221 Colton Street, Los Angeles, California.  Lawrence was an engraver for a lithograph company.  In 1920, Marguerite was registered to vote as a Republican.  The 1920 City Directory lists Gounod as a musician and Marguerite as a music teacher.  Marguerite was a pianist, and played at Grauman's Rialto theater, and in 1921 was a soloist with the Hotel Green Ensemble, Pasadena.

The marriage was a short one.  They separated 9 Jun 1921, and on 13 Jun 1922, Marguerite was in the Los Angeles Superior Court requesting attorney's costs and court fees.

Marguerite married Arthur H. Clayton, a public school principal on 10 Nov 1927.  In the 1930 U.S. census, Marguerite, 30, and Arthur H., 40, were living at 1217½ North Serrano Street, Los Angeles.  Arthur was a public school teacher.

In the 1940 U.S. census, Marguerite, 38, and Arthur H., 51, were living with her mother, Louise M. Bitter,62, at 2825 Ellendale Place, Los Angeles, California.  Marguerite was a public school teacher, and her husband was a public school principal.  They both had 4 years of college, and had no children.  A boarder was Gladys Clayton, 44, perhaps Arthur's sister?

In 1942 when Arthur, 53, registered for the WWII "Old Mens' Draft", he listed himself as employed by the L.A. Board of Education Chamber of Commerce. He was 5'7"". 168 lbs., blue eyes, brown hair, and had a bad right eye.

Marguerite, a nationally known pianist, was formerly with the New York Symphony orchestra, and played in concert tours of the U.S. and Canada.  She was a faculty member at the University of California School of Music, appeared with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and frequently played the piano in motion pictures, including The Cat and The Fiddle.  On 8 Jul 1949 Marguerite sailed on the S.S. Franconia, from Quebec, Canada, to Liverpool, England, returning 14 Aug 1949.

On 30 Oct 30 1949, Marguerite and her husband and mother were injured in an automobile accident near Bakersfield, California.  She died from these injuries in a Los Angeles sanitarium on 9 Jan 1950.  A Requiem Mass was held at St. Agnes Church, Los Angeles, on 10 Jan 1950, following which whe was buried in Calvary Cemetery in East Los Angeles.
Time of Birth}   Time of Death}   Fraternal/Social}  
Baptism Date}   Place}    
Confirm. Date}   Photos} None
Immigr'n Date} N/A Port} N/A
Education: Grade} College, 4 yr     or Top 2 Degrees}  
Military: Service}                                    for the State of}  
Health Condition}  
  Cause of Death} Automobile injuries
Last Updated
by} Karen Hancock
Date Updated} 13 Aug 2023
Date Created}  30 Aug 2010
Copyright © 2010 - 2014, 2023 by Karen L. Hancock.  All Rights Reserved.

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