by Karen Yvonne Hamilton, 2025

Edna Gomes was born on March 10, 1915, in Fort Myers, Florida, to Francisco  GOMES D’sa (1855-1931) and Laura Etta YOUNG (1875-1955).

SIBLINGS


In January of 1920, Edna lived with her mother and stepfather on the south side of Imperial River Road in Bonita Springs, Lee County, Florida. 

1920 U.S. Census

1st HUSBAND

Edna married Harry Anderson in Monroe, Florida, on January 18, 1930 when she was 15 years old. 

In April of 1930, Harry and Edna lived at 1403 Olivia Street in Key West, Florida. Harry worked as a baker at a bake shop. Next door at 1401 Olivia lived Edna’s mother and stepfather, Joe Pacetti, and Edna’s brother, Salvador with his wife, Rosalee HAMILTON and their daughter, Virginia.

1930 U.S. Census

Harry passed away on November 19, 1932, in Key West, Florida, at the age of 27. He lived at 1220 Seminary St in Key West at the time of his death. He worked as a baker and was born on Feb 6, 1905 according to his death certificate. Harry died from “knife wound in the heart” on November 19, 1932 in Key West, Florida. 

DEATH CERTIFICATE of Harry Anderson. “On the 12 day of Nov the deceased was stabbed in the heart by one William Waples and from said wound he died.”

2nd HUSBAND

Edna Gomes married Silas Holmes in Florida on December 31, 1932, when she was 17 years old. They lived in Fort Myers, Florida, in 1935.

CHILDREN

Joseph F was born in 1933.

This birth notice was from 1935, so could not be Joseph, who was 3 years old when his parents died in 1936 according to newspaper accounts of his parent’s death. To date (July 28, 2025), I have found no records to verify his birthdate. There is no other record of a child for Edna and Silas.

News-Press, Fort Myers, Florida Thursday, March 14, 1935

DEATH

Edna passed away on July 25, 1936, in Fort Myers, Florida, at the age of 21. Edna and her husband, Silas (age 23) were killed when their car was struck by the Atlantic Coast Line train. Their son, Joseph, age 3, survived the crash. Edna and Silas had been married 3 years.

Key West Citizen, July 27, 1936

SOURCES

1920 United States Federal Census; 1930 United States Federal Census; Florida Death Index, 1877-1998; Florida Marriage Collection, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001, Certificate 856 Volume 98 Source Florida Department of Health; Florida, County Marriage Records, 1823-1982; Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current; Fort Myers Florida City Directory 1935; U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current; Key West Citizen, July 27, 1936; News-Press, Fort Myers, Florida Thursday, March 14, 1935; News-Press Wed, Jul 29, 1936 Page 2; News-Press Sun, Jul 26, 1936 ·Page 1


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