James Bales & Clarence Bales

James Jamar Bales Jr. (probably known as Jim Jr.) was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, on February 15, 1909 - most likely in the town of West Newton. He was the third child born to James Jamar (“Jim”) Bales Sr. and Lydia Jane (Travis) Bales, a couple born and raised in southwestern Pennsylvania.

James Jr., at the age of three years and four months, became quite ill after contracting rabies in mid 1912. Doctor John Buchanon of West Newton began treating him on June 15, but James died two days later at 4:30pm on Monday, June 17, 1912. His father bought a plot of four graves in West Newton Cemetery (Section #2 Lot #403) and little James was buried there on Wednesday, June 19. His grave is unmarked and the cemetery office mistakenly has him listed as “Jane.”

Clarence Paul Bales was born on April 22, 1918, while the family lived at #820 Bonzo Avenue in New Castle, Pennsylvania. He was the sixth child of James Jamar Bales Sr. and Lydia Jane (Travis) Bales.

Clarence, at the age of only eleven months, died on Tuesday, March 25, 1919, in New Castle, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. His cause of death was listed as pneumonia and was sick about a month before he passed away. He was buried in the same plot as his brother James Jr. in West Newton Cemetery on Thursday, March 27.

Parents James and Lydia were later buried alongside the two youngsters in 1954 and 1939 respectively, as was their brother John Merle Bales in 1982.