Obituary Analysis of Early 20th Century Marriage and Family Patterns in Northwest Ohio

Abstract

This research is a content analysis of obituary notices gathered over a one-year period of time from a newspaper in a micropolitan area in northwest Ohio. Obituary collection was limited to those aged 65 and over at the time of death and who resided in the region. The purpose of the research is to examine marital and family patterns such as age at marriage, length of marriage, marital status at time of death, and number of surviving children and their offspring. The data indicate that single women had the highest average age at death while those married at time of death were married earlier, generally died at an older age, and had fewer surviving children and grandchildren when compared with women widowed at time of death. Patterns were less consistent among men. However, men widowed at time of death were generally older at time of death when compared with men married at time of death.