Story of Hazel Marie Lamont and Kenneth Frank Heizer

 

Hazel Lamont was the oldest child of Edwin and Cora Lamont. Hazel Lamont was born 26 Sep 1898. 

Hazel lived her first five years at a 160-acre school land homestead that her father, Edwin, acquired at the Northwest Quarter of Section 32, Township 22S, Range 13W (SE Corner of NW 100th & NW 20th, South Seward, Stafford, Kansas). The farm was located west and south of AJ Williamson and Ida Lamont Williamson two farms. Ida was Edwin’s older sister and Hazel’s Aunt. They had four children, with the youngest, Ivan, being about the same age as Hazel and Margaret.

(L-R) Hazel Lamont, Ivan Williamson, Margaret Lamont- 1902

At the age of five, Hazel moved with her family to an 80-acre farm in the Chester area of Sarcoxie, Jefferson, Kansas during April 1903.  The farm was located at 2180 Republic Road in the Chester community of Sarcoxie, Jefferson, Kansas.  Hazel and her sister, Margaret, helped with farming chores and house duties.  She attended the Chester one-room school near her home and graduated from eighth grade.  After passing the county exam on 14 May 1914, she was promoted to high school.  Hazel moved with her family into town, located at 701 Missouri Street, Lawrence, Douglas, Kansas, while her father continued to farm the land in Chester.  She attended Lawrence high school between September 1914 and May 1915 for her freshman year.

In the summer of 1915, Hazel moved with her family to a homestead farm in Caddoa, Bent, Colorado.  They moved their belongings on a flatbed rail car and traveled by train.  The family struggled to survive because of the drought conditions.  Hazel attended high school at Bent County high school between September 1915 and June 1918.  Her 1918 senior yearbook describes her as Senior Assistant Editor, singing the first alto in Glee Club, author of the Senior Class Will, Played Anne Ellenville in "Anne of Old Salem", Played Maggie, the maid in "My Cousin Timmy".  Hazel graduated from high school May 1918.  After graduation, she worked as a bank clerk at the First National Bank in Las Animas, Bent, Colorado. Hazel and Margaret returned to Lawrence, Douglas, Kansas, after Margaret graduated from High School in Jun 1919. The 1920 federal census from Lawrence show Hazel living with her parents, Edwin and Cora, age 21, single, working as bank teller.

Hazel Lamont - 1918 Bent County High School Yearbook

1920 federal census for Lawrence, Douglas, Kansas (Edwin Lamont household)

As a young boy, Kenneth worked on his parents' ranch near Las Animas, Bent, Colorado. Kenneth’s father, Robert, died in 1911 when he was thirteen years old. His uncle, Donald Heizer, owned and operated the ranch at that time.  Kenneth and his two brothers helped with ranch duties the best they could, while their mother, Nelle, handled house duties. Kenneth attended high school at Bent County high school between September 1915 and June 1918 and was in the same class as Hazel (class of 1918). While in high school he excelled in sports and graduated May 1918. After graduation, he continued working on the family ranch. 

Kenneth Heizer - 1918 Bent County High School Yearbook

1918 Bent County High School Roster

Kenneth registered for the World War I draft 12 Sep 1918. The front side of card shows name Kenneth Frank Heizer, home 629 Grove, Las Animas, Bent, Colorado. Age 20, birth 20 Aug 1898, citizen natural-born, race white, occupation student. Nearest relative Nellie Heizer at 629 Grove, Las Animas, Bent, Colorado. The back side of card shows height tall, build slender, eyes blue, hair brown.

Kenneth WWI draft card (front)

Kenneth WWI draft card (back)

The 1900 Federal census shows the family living on the ranch. The 1910 Federal census describes the family living in Las Animas at 889 Ash Avenue. Kenneth’s WWI draft card and 1920 Federal census lists the family living in Las Animas at 629 Grove Avenue in Las Animas. It appears the family lived in Las Animas and went out the ranch as needed.

The 1900 federal census shows Kenneith, son, born Aug 1898, age 1. His father, Robert, described born Jun 1863, age 36, married for 15 years, working as farmer, owns farm with mortgage. His mother, Nellie, described born Jan 1865, age 35, married for 15 years, 4 children born, 2 children living.

1900 Federal Census for Precinct 5, Bent, Colorado (Robert Heizer household)

The 1910 federal census shows Kenneith, son, age 11, attending school. His father, Robert, described as age 46, married at age 25, working as farmer, owns house free of mortgage. His mother, Nellie, described as age 46, married at age 25, 5 children born, 3 children living. Lists family living at 889 Ash Avenue.

1910 Federal Census for Las Animas, Bent, Colorado (Robert Heizer household)

The 1920 federal census shows Kenneith, son, age 21, single, working as lumber company salesman. His mother, Nellie, age 54, widow, own house free of mortgage at 629 Grove Avenue.

1920 Federal Census for Las Animas, Bent, Colorado (Nellie Heizer household)

Hazel returned to Colorado in early 1920 to marry Kenneth Frank Heizer 21 May 1920 in Las Animas.  After marriage, they had a honeymoon to California.  They both had just graduated from Bent County high school in 1918.  Kenneth went by Ken. Hazel and Ken made their home on the ranch after marriage. 

Hazel Lamont and Kenneth Heizer marriage license - 20 May 1920

Hazel Lamont and Kenneth Heizer Wedding announcement 

Lawrence Journal World – 25 May 1920

Hazel gave birth to Margaret Neil 4 Mar 1921 and Kenneth Edwin 8 Feb 1924, at the Heizer ranch located on Folton Lane in Rixey, Bent, Colorado.  The 1930 federal census shows them renting the ranch, Ken raising cattle, and Hazel not working.  

Margaret Neil birth announcement (Lawrence Journal World) - 21 Mar 1921

1930 Federal Census for Rixey, Bent, Colorado (Kenneth Heizer household)

Family stories tell of Ken sheering a herd of sheep in the spring, followed by ice and snowstorm where all the sheep were lost.  Other stories tell of Ken having a cattle herd, but a fire caused a stampede.  They lost the ranch because of dust storms and the depression, which forced them to move to Colorado Springs during 1936.  

Hazel Heizer in white dress observing cattle roundup - 1920

Family stories describe Ken and Hazel loading a horse trailer with all their belongings and moving to Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado.  Hazel shared that many of the women who lived in these isolated houses went crazy during the dust storm era and she felt fortunate to move to Colorado Springs.  

1936 Colorado Springs city directory lists them living at 1017 North Cedar Street in Colorado Springs and Kenneth working as Supervisor for the US Rural Rehabilitation Division of Resettlement Administration.  

Hazel and Kenneth Heizer home at 1017 North Cedar in Colorado Springs - 2017

The 1940 federal census shows them living in a downtown apartment (converted three-story house), located at 808 North Tejon Street, one block north of Colorado College in Colorado Springs.  Ken was working as an agriculture project supervisor with the Farm Security Administration in Amarillo, Texas and Hazel working as a bank clerk in Colorado Springs.

1940 federal census for Colorado Springs (Kenneth Heizer household)

Hazel and Kenneth Heizer - 1940’s 

Infront of Colorado Springs apartment 

Apartment 28, 808 North Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Kenneth registered for the World War II Draft on 16 Feb 1942. The Registration card shows his name as Kenneth Frank Heizer; his age 43; living at 808 North Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado; he was born on 20 Aug 1898 in Las Animas, Colorado; telephone as Main exchange and number 4052 J; Hazel M. Heizer at 808 North Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado will always know his address; employer Mr Winford M. Griffin, Amarillo, Texas; place of employment Farm Security Administration, Amarillo, Texas; race of white; color of his eyes are blue; his hair is brown color; he has height of five feet and ten and half inches and weight of 200; Has a light complexion.

Kenneth Heizer WWII draft card (front)

Kenneth Heizer WWII draft card (back)

The 1950 federal census shows Kenneth and Hazel, age 51, living at 808 North Tejon Street. Describes Kenneth working as an investigator of chattel loans. Chattel loans are for manufactured homes or other movable personal property.

1950 federal census for Colorado Springs (Kenneth Heizer household)

When Central Colorado Bank (Central Bank) opened during 1953, Ken joined, working as Senior Director and Vice President. The 1957 Colorado Springs city directory lists them living at 129 North Meade Avenue in Colorado Springs.

1957 Colorado Springs City Directory

Hazel and Kenneth Heizer in front of their apartment 

at 129 North Meade Avenue in Colorado Springs

The 1960 Colorado Springs city directory shows them living at 2228 North Logan Avenue, a small two-bedroom home they had purchased.  

1960 Colorado Springs City Directory

Hazel and Kenneth Heizer home at 

2228 North Logan Avenue in Colorado Springs - 2017

Ken retired from Central Colorado Bank (Central Bank) 1 Feb 1966 and in 1970 they purchased a studio apartment at the newly built Satellite Condominium complex. The Apartment was located at #C405, 411 Lakewood Circle in Colorado Springs

Apartment #C405, 411 Lakewood Circle in Colorado Springs

Ken Heizer retirement dinner with Hazel Heizer - Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph - 7 Feb 1966

Kenneth died 26 May 1992 at a Colorado Springs nursing home at the age of ninety-three. His funeral was at Memorial Gardens Cemetery Chapel on 29 May 1992 at 3PM with Reverend George Moore officiating. Following the funeral, the burial was at Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Colorado Springs, Colorado at Mausoleum Main, Section Hope, Crypt 5 (Back).

Hazel died 6 Jan 1993 at home in Colorado Springs at the age of ninety-four. Her funeral was at Memorial Gardens Cemetery Chapel on 9 Jan 1993 at 3PM with Reverend George Moore officiating. Following the funeral, the burial was at Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Colorado Springs, Colorado at Mausoleum Main, Section Hope, Crypt 5 (Front).

Hazel Heizer obituary - Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph - 8 Jan 1993

Kenneth and Hazel Heizer crypt at Memorial Gardens Cemetery (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Hazel was sophisticated, did not like to cook, and wore dressy clothes.  She did not enjoy roughing it and getting dirty.  Hazel enjoyed knitting, playing bridge, reading books, and visiting the Broadmoor hotel.  She was not very close to her parents and sister in Kansas, would visit once or twice a year. Hazel had a distinct, enjoyable laugh and sense of humor. She told family the speed limit on I-25 was for people from out of state only, so she could go as fast as she wanted

Ken was a banking executive, calm, and diplomatic.  He enjoyed talking, reading newspapers, watching, and attending football and basketball games.  Ken always wore a suit coat and tie.