H0250
The study's number for this person. Cite it and it will always lead here, whatever the spelling.Clara Edith Baker
Born at Illinois in 1877 and died at Spokane in 1951.
born 17 Aug 1877 at Illinois, United States died 29 Aug 1951 at Spokane, Spokane
Life story
Clara Edith Baker was born on 17 August 1877 in Illinois, a daughter of Abbie Porter; her father's name was not known to her husband when he gave the details for her death certificate.1 A family story, unsourced, names her parents as Harrison P. Baker and Abbie C. Porter, both born in Ohio (see Research Notes).2
On 24 December 1901, at Watseka, the seat of Iroquois County, Illinois, she married Leonard Hegnauer, a Missouri farmer's son who had graduated from the University of Kansas the year before and went on to study agriculture at the University of Illinois.3–4 In 1910 they were living at Urbana, the university town, with their first daughter, Dorothea Virginia, who had been born there in April 1909; a second daughter, Helen Edith, followed in May 1911.4–5 Leonard's work as an agronomist took the family west, to Oregon and then to the State College of Washington at Pullman (see his profile), where Clara, who went by her middle name, Edith, was living with Leonard and the girls in 1920, and with Leonard in 1930 and 1940.6–8
In retirement Leonard and Clara moved to the Spokane Valley: in April 1950 they were at Opportunity.9 Clara had suffered from heart disease for many years. She died at home, North 2415 Ella in Spokane, on the evening of 29 August 1951, aged seventy-four, two days after a heart attack. Leonard gave the details for her death certificate, and she was buried on 31 August in the cemetery at Pullman, where he was laid beside her twelve years later.1, 10
What we know
Proven
- Birth at Illinois, 1877
- Marriage to Leonard Hegnauer at Watseka, 1901
- Death at Spokane, 1951
- Burial at Pullman, 1951
- 5 homes, from the census and other records
What's still open
- Parents (lead). " [unobtainable]. The member story's Harrison P.
- Parents. Not yet identified.
Sources
Source 1
1 Washington State Department of Health, Certificate of Death, 1951
Washington State Department of Health, Certificate of Death, state file no. 15217 (1951), registrar's no. 147, Clara Edith Hegnauer: died 29 August 1951, 7:05 p.m., N. 2415 Ella, Spokane, Spokane County, her usual residence; female, white, married; born 17 August 1877, Illinois; age 74; usual occupation housewife, own home; father "Unobt."; mother's maiden name Abbie Porter; informant Leonard Hegnauer; cause myocardial infarction (2 days) due to arteriosclerotic heart disease (15 years), with hypertensive cardiovascular disease (10 years); attended 27–29 August 1951 by a physician of Millwood, Wash.; burial 31 August 1951, Pullman Cemetery, Pullman, Wash.; funeral director Sunset Memorial Chapel, Spokane; received 30 August, filed 25 September 1951; "Department of Health, Death Certificates, July 1, 1907–2001," image, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives (digitalarchives.wa.gov/Record/View/AAB857A5CCBD970A2E86E47609B89A26), accessed 27 September 2026. Also "Washington, Deaths and Burials, 1810–1960," FamilySearch FamilySearch record HV8Y-RVT2; and "Washington, County Death Registers, 1881–1979," FamilySearch. FamilySearch record 68F4-HJ2X
Source 2
2 Children of Susanna Hirschi & Leonard Hegnauer, 2015
"Children of Susanna Hirschi & Leonard Hegnauer," a story shared by RG_SM12 in Ancestry member tree 70279146, 28 August 2015 (no sources cited): "Leonard Hegnauer (1872-1963 WA) m. (1901) Clara Edith Baker (1877-1951 WA); Clara was the daughter of Harrison P. Baker (1837 OH- ) and Abbie C. Porter (1840 OH- )."
Sources 3–4
3 Illinois, County Marriages, 1901
"Illinois, County Marriages, 1810–1940," database, FamilySearch, Leonard Hegnauer and Clara Edith Baker, married 24 December 1901, Watseka, Iroquois County, Illinois; groom born 1871, Prairie City, Bates, Mo.; groom's parents Leonard Hegnauer and Susan K. Hirschi. FamilySearch record KF2S-4KV Also "Illinois, Marriages, 1815–1935," FamilySearch FamilySearch record HSZL-LJMM; and "Illinois, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1800–1940," Ancestry.com (index entries; the register image has not been read).
4 The Alumni Record of the University of Illinois, entry 2681, 1901
The Alumni Record of the University of Illinois, p. 384, entry 2681, Leonard Hegnauer: "Married Clara Edith Baker, Dec. 24, 1901. Children, Dorothea Virginia, b. Apr. 14, 1909; Helen Edith, b. May 23, 1911"; in "U.S., Family History Books," database with images, Ancestry.com.
Source 5
5 United States Census, 1910, 1878
"United States Census, 1910," database, FamilySearch, Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois: "Dora E" [Clara E.] Hegnauer (born about 1878, Illinois), wife of Leonard Hegnauer (born about 1872, Missouri), with their daughter Dorothea V. (born about 1909, Illinois) (index entries; the image has not been read). FamilySearch record MKH4-5WR; husband FamilySearch record MKH4-5W5
Sources 6–8
6 United States Census, 1920, 1879
"United States Census, 1920," database, FamilySearch, Pullman, Whitman County, Washington: Edith Hegnauer (born about 1879, Illinois), wife of "Lonard" Hegnauer, with their daughters Dorothy (born about 1910, Illinois) and Helen (born about 1912, Washington) (index entries; the image has not been read). FamilySearch record MHFD-WMM Also "1920 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com, Pullman, E.D. 177.
In the archive: O02921
7 1930 United States Federal Census
"1930 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com, Pullman, Whitman County, Washington, E.D. 67, index entry for Clara Hegnauer (record 112944646), as attached in the old Ancestry family tree "Hegnauer (Old)" (details not read in this study).
8 United States Census, 1940, 1878
"United States Census, 1940," database, FamilySearch, Pullman, Whitman County, Washington: Edith Hegnauer (born about 1878, Illinois), wife of "Lennard" Hegnauer (born about 1872, Missouri) (index entries; the image has not been read). FamilySearch record K9SP-DY2
In the archive: O02757
Source 9
9 United States, Census, 1950, 1878
"United States, Census, 1950," database, FamilySearch, Opportunity Township, Spokane County, Washington, 10 April 1950: Clara E. Hegnauer (born about 1878, Illinois), with "Leanard" Hegnauer (born about 1872, Missouri) (index entries; the image has not been read). FamilySearch record 6X15-2PPD
In the archive: O02392
Source 10
10 Find a Grave, memorial 70189003
Find a Grave, memorial 70189003, Clara Edith Baker Hegnauer (17 Aug 1877 – 29 Aug 1951), Pullman City Cemetery, Pullman, Whitman County, Washington (findagrave.com/memorial/70189003); the search listing was read, the memorial page not viewed. Also "BillionGraves Index," FamilySearch, Clara Edith Hegnauer, 1877–1951, Pullman City Cemetery. FamilySearch record 2VWJ-WL9
More sources are in the evidence below.
Life in time
17 Aug 1877
Birth , Illinois, United States
How we know
From her death certificate (informant her husband). Find a Grave gives the same date.
Her Washington death certificate, read on the image, gives 17 Aug 1877 in Illinois and an age of 74; Find a Grave and FamilySearch's index of Washington deaths and burials agree. Every census index gives Illinois, with birth years from 1877 to 1879. The town is not known.
24 Dec 1901
Marriage, with Leonard Hegnauer , Watseka, Iroquois, Illinois, United States
How we know
Illinois county marriage record (FamilySearch indexes); the register image has not been read.
Two FamilySearch indexes of the Iroquois County marriage register give Leonard Hegnauer and Clara Edith Baker, married 24 Dec 1901 at Watseka, and her husband's University of Illinois alumni record gives the same date. They were husband and wife in every census from 1910 to 1950, and he was the informant on her death certificate.
1910
Residence , Urbana, Champaign, Illinois, United States
How we know
"Dora E." [Clara E.], born about 1878 in Illinois, wife of Leonard Hegnauer, with their daughter Dorothea V.
FamilySearch's index of the 1910 census at Urbana; her husband and daughter identify her, and "Dora E." is a misreading of Clara E. The image has not been read.
1920
Residence , Pullman, Whitman, Washington, United States
How we know
"Edith", born about 1879 in Illinois, wife of Leonard Hegnauer, with their daughters Dorothy and Helen.
FamilySearch's index of the 1920 census at Pullman; her husband and daughters identify her. The image has not been read.
1930
Residence , Pullman, Whitman, Washington, United States
How we know
Index entry attached in the old family tree; its details have not been read.
The old Ancestry tree attaches the 1930 census entry at Pullman to her, with those of her husband and daughters.
1940
Residence , Pullman, Whitman, Washington, United States
How we know
"Edith", born about 1878 in Illinois, wife of Leonard Hegnauer.
FamilySearch's index of the 1940 census at Pullman; the image has not been read.
1950
Residence , Opportunity, Spokane, Washington, United States
How we know
Clara E., born about 1878 in Illinois, with her husband Leonard, at Opportunity in the Spokane Valley.
FamilySearch's index of the 1950 census (Opportunity Township, Spokane County); the image has not been read.
29 Aug 1951
Death , Spokane, Spokane, Washington, United States
How we know
At her home, North 2415 Ella, Spokane, at 7:05 p.m., aged 74; a heart attack of two days, with arteriosclerotic heart disease of fifteen years and hypertension. Housewife. Her husband was the informant.
Her Washington death certificate (state file 15217), read on the image, gives the date, place and cause; Find a Grave gives the same date.
31 Aug 1951
Burial , Pullman, Whitman, Washington, United States
How we know
Pullman (City) Cemetery. Sunset Memorial Chapel, Spokane, were the funeral directors.
Her death certificate gives burial on 31 Aug 1951 in the Pullman Cemetery; Find a Grave and BillionGraves record her grave in Pullman City Cemetery, where her husband was buried beside her in 1963.
-
1877 Birth
From her death certificate (informant her husband). Find a Grave gives the same date.
Her Washington death certificate, read on the image, gives 17 Aug 1877 in Illinois and an age of 74; Find a Grave and FamilySearch's index of Washington deaths and burials agree. Every census index gives Illinois, with birth years from 1877 to 1879. The town is not known.
-
1901 Marriage, with Leonard Hegnauer
Illinois county marriage record (FamilySearch indexes); the register image has not been read.
Two FamilySearch indexes of the Iroquois County marriage register give Leonard Hegnauer and Clara Edith Baker, married 24 Dec 1901 at Watseka, and her husband's University of Illinois alumni record gives the same date. They were husband and wife in every census from 1910 to 1950, and he was the informant on her death certificate.
-
1909 Daughter born: Dorothea Virginia Hegnauer
-
1910 Residence
"Dora E." [Clara E.], born about 1878 in Illinois, wife of Leonard Hegnauer, with their daughter Dorothea V.
FamilySearch's index of the 1910 census at Urbana; her husband and daughter identify her, and "Dora E." is a misreading of Clara E. The image has not been read.
Source 5
-
1911 Daughter born: Helen Edith Hegnauer
-
1920 Residence
"Edith", born about 1879 in Illinois, wife of Leonard Hegnauer, with their daughters Dorothy and Helen.
FamilySearch's index of the 1920 census at Pullman; her husband and daughters identify her. The image has not been read.
Source 6
-
1930 Residence
Index entry attached in the old family tree; its details have not been read.
The old Ancestry tree attaches the 1930 census entry at Pullman to her, with those of her husband and daughters.
Source 7
-
1940 Residence
"Edith", born about 1878 in Illinois, wife of Leonard Hegnauer.
FamilySearch's index of the 1940 census at Pullman; the image has not been read.
Source 8
-
1950 Residence
Clara E., born about 1878 in Illinois, with her husband Leonard, at Opportunity in the Spokane Valley.
FamilySearch's index of the 1950 census (Opportunity Township, Spokane County); the image has not been read.
Source 9
-
1951 Death
At her home, North 2415 Ella, Spokane, at 7:05 p.m., aged 74; a heart attack of two days, with arteriosclerotic heart disease of fifteen years and hypertension. Housewife. Her husband was the informant.
Her Washington death certificate (state file 15217), read on the image, gives the date, place and cause; Find a Grave gives the same date.
-
1951 Burial
- proven
- family event
Hover or drag along the line, or select a point and use the arrow keys.
Places in this life
6 places, in order- 1 Illinois, United States Birth 17 Aug 1877
- 2 Watseka, Iroquois County Marriage 24 Dec 1901
- 3 Urbana, Champaign County Residence 1910
- 4 Pullman, Whitman County Residence 1920 · Residence 1930 · Residence 1940 · 1 more
- 5 Opportunity, Spokane County Residence 1950
- 6 Spokane, Spokane County Death 29 Aug 1951
Hollow markers are placed approximately, at the town, county or region.
Family
Records
Search the archive →Marriages
- 2 Jan 1902 confirmed Marriage notice “Clara Edith Baker”, bride Rich Hill, Bates County Newspapers.com · O06527
Deaths and burials
Census, land and residence
- 10 Apr 1950 confirmed Census “Clara E Hegnauer” Opportunity Township, Spokane County FamilySearch · O02392
Also cited as evidence: 3 records filed under relatives
The evidence 9 facts with their grades, 10 sources, and the research notes
Facts
| Fact | Date | Place | Grade | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | 17 Aug 1877 | Illinois, United States | proven | 1 , 5 , 8 , 10 |
| Marriage with Leonard Hegnauer | 24 Dec 1901 | Watseka, Iroquois, Illinois, United States | proven | 3 , 4 |
| Residence | 1910 | Urbana, Champaign, Illinois, United States | proven | 5 |
| Residence | 1920 | Pullman, Whitman, Washington, United States | proven | 6 |
| Residence | 1930 | Pullman, Whitman, Washington, United States | proven | 7 |
| Residence | 1940 | Pullman, Whitman, Washington, United States | proven | 8 |
| Residence | 1950 | Opportunity, Spokane, Washington, United States | proven | 9 |
| Death | 29 Aug 1951 | Spokane, Spokane, Washington, United States | proven | 1 , 10 |
| Burial | 31 Aug 1951 | Pullman, Whitman, Washington, United States | proven | 1 , 10 |
Research notes
- Sources: Her Washington death certificate was read on the image. Her marriage and her censuses (1910–1950) are FamilySearch and Ancestry index entries, not re-read on the images; her husband's University of Illinois alumni record was read. Find a Grave was seen as a search listing only.
- Identity: Clara Edith Baker, who married Leonard Hegnauer in 1901, is Clara Edith Hegnauer, born 17 Aug 1877 in Illinois, whose death certificate (1951) names Leonard Hegnauer as informant; the censuses of 1910–1950 show her as Leonard's wife, under the names Dora E. (1910, a misreading), Edith (1920, 1940) and Clara E. (1950).3, 1, 5, 6, 8, 9
- Parents (lead): Her death certificate gives her mother's maiden name as Abbie Porter and her father as "Unobt." [unobtainable].1 The member story's Harrison P. Baker (born 1837, Ohio) and Abbie C. Porter (born 1840, Ohio) fits the mother's name, but it cites no sources.2 The Iroquois County marriage register of 1901 (not yet read) should give her age, residence and perhaps her parents; the 1880 census of Illinois, for a Baker household with a daughter Clara E. of about three and a mother Abbie, is the next search.
- Not the same person: A Clara E. Hegnauer who died at Massillon, Ohio, in 1973 (born about 1894) belongs to another family.
- This profile is part of the Hegnauer one-name study, as the wife of Leonard Hegnauer.
Working notes
- Wife of Leonard Hegnauer (H0012); m. 1901 Iroquois Co., Ill. (IL county marriage 61370/900633142); 1920 and 1930 Pullman, Wash. (6061/14137053, 6224/112944646); WA death cert (60229/1097176) names her mother Abbie Porter; old tree 165462681 @I252683486351@
- WA death cert 15217 (read): b. 17 Aug 1877 Illinois; mother Abbie Porter; d. 29 Aug 1951 at home N. 2415 Ella, Spokane; bur. Pullman Cemetery 31 Aug 1951; informant Leonard Hegnauer
Sources
- 1
Washington State Department of Health, Certificate of Death, state file no. 15217 (1951), registrar's no. 147, Clara Edith Hegnauer: died 29 August 1951, 7:05 p.m., N. 2415 Ella, Spokane, Spokane County, her usual residence; female, white, married; born 17 August 1877, Illinois; age 74; usual occupation housewife, own home; father "Unobt."; mother's maiden name Abbie Porter; informant Leonard Hegnauer; cause myocardial infarction (2 days) due to arteriosclerotic heart disease (15 years), with hypertensive cardiovascular disease (10 years); attended 27–29 August 1951 by a physician of Millwood, Wash.; burial 31 August 1951, Pullman Cemetery, Pullman, Wash.; funeral director Sunset Memorial Chapel, Spokane; received 30 August, filed 25 September 1951; "Department of Health, Death Certificates, July 1, 1907–2001," image, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives (digitalarchives.wa.gov/Record/View/AAB857A5CCBD970A2E86E47609B89A26), accessed 27 September 2026. Also "Washington, Deaths and Burials, 1810–1960," FamilySearch FamilySearch record HV8Y-RVT2; and "Washington, County Death Registers, 1881–1979," FamilySearch. FamilySearch record 68F4-HJ2X
- 2
"Children of Susanna Hirschi & Leonard Hegnauer," a story shared by RG_SM12 in Ancestry member tree 70279146, 28 August 2015 (no sources cited): "Leonard Hegnauer (1872-1963 WA) m. (1901) Clara Edith Baker (1877-1951 WA); Clara was the daughter of Harrison P. Baker (1837 OH- ) and Abbie C. Porter (1840 OH- )."
- 3
"Illinois, County Marriages, 1810–1940," database, FamilySearch, Leonard Hegnauer and Clara Edith Baker, married 24 December 1901, Watseka, Iroquois County, Illinois; groom born 1871, Prairie City, Bates, Mo.; groom's parents Leonard Hegnauer and Susan K. Hirschi. FamilySearch record KF2S-4KV Also "Illinois, Marriages, 1815–1935," FamilySearch FamilySearch record HSZL-LJMM; and "Illinois, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1800–1940," Ancestry.com (index entries; the register image has not been read).
- 4
The Alumni Record of the University of Illinois, p. 384, entry 2681, Leonard Hegnauer: "Married Clara Edith Baker, Dec. 24, 1901. Children, Dorothea Virginia, b. Apr. 14, 1909; Helen Edith, b. May 23, 1911"; in "U.S., Family History Books," database with images, Ancestry.com.
- 5
"United States Census, 1910," database, FamilySearch, Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois: "Dora E" [Clara E.] Hegnauer (born about 1878, Illinois), wife of Leonard Hegnauer (born about 1872, Missouri), with their daughter Dorothea V. (born about 1909, Illinois) (index entries; the image has not been read). FamilySearch record MKH4-5WR; husband FamilySearch record MKH4-5W5
- 6
"United States Census, 1920," database, FamilySearch, Pullman, Whitman County, Washington: Edith Hegnauer (born about 1879, Illinois), wife of "Lonard" Hegnauer, with their daughters Dorothy (born about 1910, Illinois) and Helen (born about 1912, Washington) (index entries; the image has not been read). FamilySearch record MHFD-WMM Also "1920 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com, Pullman, E.D. 177.
- 7
"1930 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com, Pullman, Whitman County, Washington, E.D. 67, index entry for Clara Hegnauer (record 112944646), as attached in the old Ancestry family tree "Hegnauer (Old)" (details not read in this study).
- 8
"United States Census, 1940," database, FamilySearch, Pullman, Whitman County, Washington: Edith Hegnauer (born about 1878, Illinois), wife of "Lennard" Hegnauer (born about 1872, Missouri) (index entries; the image has not been read). FamilySearch record K9SP-DY2
In the archive: O02757
- 9
"United States, Census, 1950," database, FamilySearch, Opportunity Township, Spokane County, Washington, 10 April 1950: Clara E. Hegnauer (born about 1878, Illinois), with "Leanard" Hegnauer (born about 1872, Missouri) (index entries; the image has not been read). FamilySearch record 6X15-2PPD
In the archive: O02392
- 10
Find a Grave, memorial 70189003, Clara Edith Baker Hegnauer (17 Aug 1877 – 29 Aug 1951), Pullman City Cemetery, Pullman, Whitman County, Washington (findagrave.com/memorial/70189003); the search listing was read, the memorial page not viewed. Also "BillionGraves Index," FamilySearch, Clara Edith Hegnauer, 1877–1951, Pullman City Cemetery. FamilySearch record 2VWJ-WL9