Effa Minerva was born 13 February 1881, Carroll County, Maryland, US, the daughter of Susie Frank. Effa first married Arthur John Carter, son of Richard and Emma Florence Bowen Carter and they had three children, Oda, Richard & Arthur Eugene Carter, Sr (my grand-father). She then married John Wesley Messersmith, son of Henry and Mary Elizabeth Frank Messersmith (her first cousin). Effa and John had four children, Florence, Elmer, John & Sterling. Effa died

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