Individual Details

1900 Census. Center Twp, Indianapolis, Marion Co, IN, Hh 76
Jacob D. Davis, b. Mar 1856, age 44, married 18 yr, b. IN, parents b. OH
Cassie A., wife, b. Jan 1861, age 39, no children, b. NC as were her parents
Ambra Helsey, Indenture, b. Jun 1891, age 8, b. OH, father b.OH, mother b. IN

1910 Census. Indianapolis Ward 3, Marion Co, IN, Hh 98
William D. Norton, age 60, married 5 yr, b. PA, parents b. PA
Cassie, wife, age 49, no children, b. NC, parents b. NC
Ambra Halsey, foster daughter, age 19, b. OH, father b. U.S., mother b. IN


Apparently there were serious problems with the marriage between Rosa and Halsey. A newspaper article in the Indianapolis Star in 1912 when Ambra found her family, explained that when Ambra was about a year old, Cassie Davis, later Cassie Norton, agreed to take Ambra and raise her. A family letter that Ambra sent Lula, stated that a friend of her uncle, Frank E. Dixon, before he moved to Ft. Smith AR from Vincennes IN, was able to give her some information about her family.

Ambra married a minister, spending most of her time in Africa where she and her husband were missionaries. I found the date as 17 Mar 1917. They had two daughters, Lois Marie and Virginia Ann who was born in the Congo.

Her husband had already had one tour in Monrovia, Liberia.
U. S. Consular Registration Certificate.
George W. Buckner, Consul General of the U. S. A. at Monrovia, Liberia certified that Lewis Albert Hurt was an American citizen in the consulate. He was born 30 Dec 1882, near Walnut, Lee Co. Illinois. He arrived in Monrovia, Liberia on 28 Jul 1913 for the purpose of missionary work. Spaces for wife and children marked out. Hurt held Passport #8286, issued 2 Jun 1915. The certificate expired 7 Nov 1915. The digitized certificate on Ancestry has his original signature.

4 Sep 1918. World War I Draft Registration:
Lewis Albert Hurt, living at 5335 Burgess Ave, Indianapolis. Born 30 Dec 1882
Minister, employed temporary by the U.S. Govt, Navy Yard, Puget Sount, WA
Mrs. Ambra Hurt, wife.
Medium height, medium build, blue-gray eyes, dark brown hair

1920 Census. Indianapolis Ward 4, Marion, IN, Hh 589
Lewis Hurt, age 38, b. IL, parents b. IL, Secretary, YMCA
Ambra, 28, b. IN, father b. Ohio, mother b. IN
Lois, dau, 3 years, 2 months, b. IN
C. A. Norton, mother-in-law, 69, widow, b. NC as were her parents.

Passport Application, 2 May 1921.
Lewis Albert Hurt of Marion Co, Indiana, accompanied by his wife Ambra and minor child. He was born Lee Co, Illinois 30 Sep 1881 to David Hurt, born Illinois and now residing in Manlius, Illinois. He had resided outside the United States in Liberia, West Africa from July 1913 to December 1915. His permanent residence is Indianapolis, IN, where he is a Missionary. His last passport was obtained from the American Ligation at Monrovia, Liberia, 18 Nov 1915 when he was enroute to the USA. He intends to return to the United States within 4 years. He will visit the coutries of England, Belgium, France, enroute to the Belgian Congo, leaving from the port of New York on the Celtic, 25 Jun 1921.
An accompanying letter certifies he is an appointed missionary of the United Christian Missionary Society and will be located in the Belgian Congo in Africa, where he will be located three or four years, until his return on furlough. The same letter proved for Mrs. Ambra H. Hurt. They were on the letterhead of the Society.


Ship Passenger lists on Ancestry.com

4 Jul 1921. Arrival in Liverpool, England on the Celtic of the White Star line. She had departed from New York. Lewis A., Ambra, and Lois H. Hurt. Address in London: 9 Farrington Road. Lewis listed as a Missionary - he was 39, Ambra 31, and Lois age 4. They traveled 2nd Class.

22 Jan 1926 Arrival in Southampton, England on the Majestic of the White Star Line. Departure, New York. In transit to Antwerp. Lewis Hurt, Missionary, 44; Ambra, wife, 35; Lois, age 9, Virginia, age 2. Citizens of United States.


1930 Census. Indianapolis, IN, Hh 7
Lewis Hurt, 48, married at age 34, b. IL, Church missionary
Ambra, wife, 38, married at 26, b. Ohio
Lois, dau, 13, b. IN
Virginia, dau, 5, b. Belgian Congo


More Travel:

6 Jul 1931 Arrival in London on the Menekahda, of the Atlantic Trasport Line. Departed from New York, Lewis A. Hurt, Missionary, age 49; Ambra, 41, Lois, student age 14, Virginia age 7. Address in London: 35 Charles St. Citizens of USA.

20 Aug 1935. Departed from Southampton; Arrival in New York on 20 Aug 1935, on the Aquitania. Lewis Albert Hurt, 53, b. Dec 1881, Walnut, Lee Co, Illinois. Ambra H. Hurt, 45, b. Jun 1890, Nevada, Ohio. Virginia Ann Hurt, 11 (her birth information marked out - said to be naturalized by virtue of father's citizenship - I wonder if she was born abroad). Lois Marie Hurt, age 18, b. Nov 1916, Indianapolis, Indiana. Home address stated as 15 North Euclid Ave, Indianapolis, IN.

1936 Indianapolis City Directory
Lewis (Ambra) Hurt. Missionary. Home: 120 Wallace.

31 Mar 1941. Departed from Cape Town, South Africa on 9 Mar 1941, arrived New York on the President Taylor. Lewis Hurt, age 59, b. 30 Dec 1881, Walnut, Calif. Ambra Hurt, age 50, b. 17 Jun 1890, Nevada, Ohio. Virginia Hurt, 16, b. Belgian Congo, American Parents. Address in U.S., 222 Downey Ave, Indianapolis, IN

27 Apr 1942. Lewis Albert Hurt registered for the "old man's draft", World War II
Residence was 419 W. 43rd St, Indianapolis. He was age 60, b. 30 Dec 1881, in Lee Co, IL
Mr. C. M. Yocum of 222 Downey Ave, Indianapolis would always know his address. He was employed by the United Christian Missionary Society at that address. He was normally stationed in Africa.
He was 5'7" and weighed about 155; gray eyes, gray hair, ruddy complexion

12 Feb 1946, 5:15 AM. Departed Leopoldville, Belgian Congo, Flight 151, Pan American Airways - arrived New York. Lewis Hurt, age 64, Missionary. Ambra Hurt, 55, Missionary. Virginia Hurt, age 21, Missionary. All marked as US Citizens. Home was 222 Downey Ave, Indianapolis.

5 Aug 1954. Outward Bound passengers sailing from New York to Matdi, Belgian Congo, the S.S. Bastogne. Virginia Ann Hurt, age 30, Born Bolenge, Belgian Congo, staying indefinitely. Ambra Hurt, age 63, born Nevada, Ohio. staying indefinitely. Address of both was 2010 Kalorama Rd, NW, Washington, DC

Found an index of Missionary Tidings, publication of the Christian Woman's Board of Missions of the Disciples of Christ church, from May 1883 to Dec 1919 when it was merged into World Call.
HURT, AMBRA HALSEY 1891-1974, married Lewis Albert Hurt. Notes and news, (Marriage) May '16:4
HURT, LEWIS ALBERT, 1881-1949 Numerous entries related to Missions.

The Indianapolis Star, 14 Aug 1948, Saturday, p. 9
Ex-Indianapolis Man, Who Was Missionary, Dies
Lewis A. Hurt, Disciples of Christ missionary in the Belgian Congo for more than 20 years and a former Indianapolis resident died Thursday night at his home in Manlius, Illinois.
He had been living there since ill health forced his retirement two years ao.
Hurt entered missionary service in 1913 and had lived in Liberia and the Belgian Congo all the time until his retirement, except for furloughs which he spent in Indianapolis, headquarters of the United Christian Missionary Society.
Funeral services and burial will be held at Manlius Sunday.
Survivors include the widow, Mrs. Ambria Hurt, and two daughters, Mrs. Lois Marie Anderson, Washington, DC and Miss Virginia Hurt, Manlius.

Lois married Paul H. Anderson, 8 Sep 1940, Marion Co, IN. Her tombstone is on FindAGrave. She was born 6 Nov 1916, died 27 Feb 1985.
City Directory, Silver Spring, Maryland, 1960. Paul H. Anderson (Lois). Employed with US Govt. Home at 7605 Wildwood Drive (Takoma Park)
Paul Hamilton Anderson has a death certificate, state file number 83-019309. He died 30 May 1983, King's Daughters Hospital, Staunton, Rockbridge Co, VA. His residence was Rt. 1, Box 99, Rockbridge Baths. His parents were Joseph Anderson and Lena Hrzenjak. Paul died 30 May 1983, of congestive heart failure and cancer. He was born 27 Aug 1911 in Ohio. He was a retired statistician for the federal government. Lois Marie Hurt Anderson was the informant. He was buried McElwee Chapel Cemetery, Lexington, VA.
Lois Marie Hurt Anderson, Virginia death certificate, state file number 85-006460, died Stonewall Jackson Hospital, Lexington, Rockbridge, VA. Her residence was Rt 1, Box 99, Rockbridge Baths. She died 27 Feb 1985 of congestive heart failure and myocardial infarction. She was born 6 Nov 1916 in Illinois. Parents were Lewis Hurt and Ambra Halsey. She was widowed - had been married to Paul H. Anderson. The informant was Rosemary Anderson. She was buried McElwee Chapel Cemetery, Rockbridge Baths, VA.

Note about daughter Virginia found on Ancestry FamilyTree:
Wilbur King and Robert Doty, relatives of Virginia's father, told me on June 28, 2012 that they had heard she had passed away in the Congo. They didn't know when. She had married someone she met in the Congo, Wilbur King said he thought he was Dutch, and moved back to the Congo.
Reports of Deaths of American Citizens Abroad.
From: American Embassy, Brussels, Belgium, August 23, 1965
Virginia Ann Charles, housewife, born Bolenge, Belgian Congo, April 19, 1924, last known address in the U.S., Maryland. Died April 24, 1965, age 41, at 37 Boulevard de Smet de Naeyer, Jette, Belgium, of "infarctus of the myocardium". Buried Communal Cemetery of Jette. Effects in possession of husband, Mr. Jacques Charles. Other known relatives: Mrs. Ambra Hurt, 1432 Kanawa, Hyattsville, MD, mother.

Birth	17 Jun 1890
Death	Aug 1974	Washington, D. C.

Father	Ephraim R. Helsiel (1865 - 1942)
Mother	Rosalie Dixon (1866 - 1914)
Sibling	Lula Halsey (1888 - 1955)