Church Records: Finding Grandma’s Birth

March 12, 2022 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 1 Comment

My paternal grandmother died before I was born so I never had the privilege of knowing her. So many times, I wished I could talk to her. Not just for genealogy purposes, I wanted to know her like I knew my other grandma. As a kid, I would visualize her watching me from heaven. All I know about my paternal grandmother is what my father told me.

Helen Desens was born on 23 March 1900 at home in Forest Park, Illinois.[1] According to my father she attended St. John Lutheran Church and school through 8^th grade in Forest Park, Illinois, and was baptized and confirmed at this church.[2] Unable to find a birth certificate for her, I turned to church records. This was many years ago before the Internet. I called the church and asked if they had records and would it be possible search them. They said, “Yes, come on in.” When I got there, I had to ring a bell and someone met me at the door and escorted me to the church office. I had to walk through the school and across the gymnasium to get to the church office. The school and church were old, and I don’t think it had changed since my grandmother attended school there from approximately 1905 to 1914. Walking through the halls of the school, I imagined my grandmother as a little girl going to this school and I felt a real connection to her. If I was alone, I think I would have cried. But on to the office and records. I found her confirmation record, but not a baptism record. The confirmation record stated she was confirmed on 5 April 1914 and her parents were Carl Desens and Augusta Gabbie.[3] She was born 23 March 1900 Forest Park IL and her church was St. Paul in Forest Park, Illinois.[4] Although, I could use the confirmation record as a secondary source for proof of her parentage and birth date, I was disappointed. The baptism record would be a secondary source too, but closer to the event (birth). But at least it told me that she was most likely baptized at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Forest Park. I didn’t know that Forest Park had two Lutheran Churches. While I was there, I looked for anyone who had the last name Desens, and I did find some of her brothers and sisters who were baptized at this church, plus some cousins. I left that day with the intention of calling St. Paul Church and going there to look for her baptism. But since I did have the proof I was looking for, I put it off for many years. I put it off so long that now with the Internet many records are online, and I found her baptism at St. Paul on Ancestry.com. My grandmother was baptized Helene Margarete Auguste Desens on 12 May 1901.[5] It states she was born 23 March 1901 (the year different from the confirmation record). It lists the parents as Carl Desens and Augusta Gabbei (slightly different spelling than confirmation record).[6]

According to my father she went to church regularly and brought him up a Lutheran. I am not sure of my grandfather’s religious beliefs. My father did not mention him going to church. I assume he was probably brought up Catholic because his mother was a Catholic. My grandparents went to the DuPage County Courthouse in Wheaton, Illinois on the 22 March 1919 to be married.[7] I find it interesting that my grandmother was married the day before her 18^th birthday. Actually, if she was born in 1901, she was still 17 when she got married. Marriage record lists her as 19 on the day before her birthday. So did they lie about her age to get married, but then why didn’t they wait one or two more days until she was 18. Why didn’t they have a church wedding? Was it because of age, different religious beliefs, or could it be for some other reason? I’ll never know the answer to that one.

There seems to be a discrepancy in her birth year.

Confirmation says 1900[8]
Baptism says 1901[9]
Marriage cert says she is 19 years old and that would make the birth year 1900[10]
She is not listed on 1900 census with the rest of her family[11]
Her death certificate says 1901[12]
My father said 1900 [13]

I decided to go with the 1901 because the baptism is closed to the event and the fact, she is not listed on the 1900 census with the rest of her family. If born in 1900, she would have been 3 months old when the census was taken on 30 June1900.

Week 10 Worship 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

[1] Told to me by father George Manfroid, Jr. in 1979.

[2] Ibid.

[3] “Confirmation Record for Helen Desens,” born 23 March 1900, confirmed 5 April 1914, St. St John Congregational book 1908 – 1926, Page 227. Book located at John Lutheran Church, 305 Circle Ave., Forest Park, Cook County, Illinois.

[4] Ibid.

[5] “Baptism record for Helen Desens,” Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Archives; Elk Grove Village, Illinois; Congregational Records Source Information: Ancestry.com. U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

[6] Ibid.

[7] “George Manfroid marriage Record to Helen Desens,” Wheaton, DuPage, Illinois, 22 March 1919. Original located at DuPage County Government Offices, 505 N County Farm Road, Winfield, DuPage, Illinois.

[8] “Confirmation Record for Helen Desens,” born 23 March 1900, confirmed 5 April 1914, St. St John Congregational book 1908 – 1926, Page 227. Book located at John Lutheran Church, 305 Circle Ave., Forest Park, Cook County, Illinois.

[9] “Baptism record for Helen Desens,” Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Archives; Elk Grove Village, Illinois; Congregational Records Source Information: Ancestry.com. U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

[10] “George Manfroid marriage Record to Helen Desens, Wheaton, DuPage, Illinois,” 22 March 1919. Original located at DuPage County Government Offices, 505 N County Farm Road, Winfield, DuPage, Illinois.

[11] Year: 1900; Census Place: Proviso, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T623 294; Page: 53A; Enumeration District: 1182.

[12] “Death record for Helen Manfroid,” Elmhurst, DuPage, Illinois, 4 September 1946. Original located at DuPage County Government Offices, 505 N County Farm Road, Winfield, DuPage, Illinois.

[13] Told to me by George Manfroid, Jr. in 1979.

Court Records: Probate

February 26, 2022 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 1 Comment

We find our ancestors in a variety of court records such as; wills, probate, criminal and civil cases, divorces, and naturalization records to name as few. Through the years, I have found several court records that have helped me establish a relationship, and some that have given me a glimpse into my ancestor’s life.

One such court record is the probate file for my 2nd great-grandfather, John Desens. I was looking for proof that he was my 2nd great-grandfather. I was pretty sure I had the right person, but needed positive proof and I did find it in the probate file.

Above it states that Carl Desens who resides at 111 Washington Street, Forest Park, Illinois is the son of John Desens, the deceased. Carl Desens is my great-grandfather.¹ This was the proof that I needed for my family tree.

Also, it states in the probate file that John Desens suffered a violent death.² I already knew about the circumstances of his death by newspaper accounts and a court transcript of criminal case against his neighbor.³

States John Desens died a violent deateh

What I did not know was that his neighbor, Fred Zell tried suing John Desens’ estate for $5000 because he was permanently disabled from the fight he had with John Desens’. But John’s estate counter sued and below is the statement from the probate file that gives the reason they are suing Fred Zell.⁴

Description of John Desens violent death

Above is a description of what Fred Zell did to John Desens. Since it may be hard to read I am going to transcribe that part. “Fred Zell did at said time and place unlawfully, willfully, wrongfully, and feloniously assault, strike, beat, bruise, cut, stab, kick, choke, throw down to ground with great violence and while so down cut, kick choke, stab, beat and bruise the said John Desens and put him greatly in fear of his life. That therefore the said John Desens (now deceased) was made sick, sore, bruised and disabled from attending to his business and to care for himself in any manner what ever from the 26th day of June A.D. 1907 to the time of his death.” John’s estate tried to sue Fred for $5,900. It was settled with John’s estate paying Fred $1.00.⁵ In the criminal case against Fred Zell for killing John Desens it was found that there was not enough evidence to convict Fred.⁶

In this probate file was the legal description of his farm and a list of all his belongings. The legal description helped me find John’s Farm. The list of belongings gave me a glimpse into his life.⁷

I have other wills and probate files that help me understand my ancestors life and their surroundings as well as prove heirs.

Week 8 Courting 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks.

___________________________________________

¹Probate file for John Desens filed in the McIntyre Library at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 103 Garfield Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701.

²Ibid.

³Criminal file for Fred Zell, Clerk of the Court, 517 Court Street, Room 405, Neillsville, Wisconsin 54456. Sent by Elizabeth Frost, Deputy Clerk to Abigail Grunst

⁴Probate file for John Desens filed in the McIntyre Library at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 103 Garfield Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701.

⁵Ibid.

⁶Criminal file for Fred Zell, Clerk of the Court, 517 Court Street, Room 405, Neillsville, Wisconsin 54456. Sent by Elizabeth Frost, Deputy Clerk to Abigail Grunst

⁷Probate file for John Desens filed in the McIntyre Library at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 103 Garfield Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701.

Curious and Branching Out

February 5, 2022 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 2 Comments

Branching out or researching collateral lines is a well-known technique used in the genealogy community when you hit a brick wall. It was a brick wall and curiosity that caused me to branch out and research collateral lines. In two ancestral lines, I was curious what brought them to the place they settled in. What brought my 2^nd great-grandfather, Charles Bowers, to Ottawa, Illinois in 1854? Usually, people settle in a specific area because they know someone or have a job. The job was out because he worked as a farm laborer and a school janitor. He could have done these jobs anywhere. He must have known someone, but who? If I wanted to know why he settled in Ottawa, Illinois, it was necessary to research his collateral lines.

Charles Obituary in 1897 said he had two brothers, Robert and William, living in Syracuse, New York.[1] I did find a Robert living in Syracuse in 1900[2] and Richard Bowers[3] living in Syracuse, New York in 1892, but no William. I often wondered if Richard was William. Maybe William was his middle name. I gave up looking for William and thought perhaps the newspaper or person giving the information had it wrong.

A few years ago, I ordered microfilm from the Family History Library in Utah to look for my 2nd great-grandfather Charles Bower’s baptism on 2 October 1828 in England.[4] I knew it was there from the online index. When I got the microfilm reels of the church records it covered the years 1772 – 1905. I started looking for anyone and everyone with the last name Bowers. I found my 3rd great-grandparents Bonnet Bowers and Eliza Linford marriage which stated that Eliza was a widow.[5] I also found baptism records for a Richard,[6] Robert[7] and Eliza Bowers[8] born to Bonnet and Eliza Bowers. I never found a William Bowers that was a son of Bonnet and Eliza. Along the way, I found Eliza in the marriage banns to Robert Linford.[9] I also found two children she had with her first husband, William baptized 28 August 1811,[10] and Elizabeth baptized November 30, 1814[11] and died on 5 December 1814. I made copies of all the pages that listed these events. I then came home and entered the Bowers information into my family tree. I filed the documents in my file cabinet under their family name and moved on to another branch.

I decided to start scanning documents that I have collected over the years into my computer. I started with the Bowers folder because it is the first one in my file cabinet. As I was scanning them into the computer, I was looking over them again, when I came across the name William Linford born in 1811 to Eliza and her first husband.[12] I guess it pays to take a second look at documents because at that moment it struck me that if William lived, he would be a step brother to my 2^nd great grandfather Charles. Could this be the brother William mentioned in Charles’ obituary? The next thing I did was a search on William Linford, and the first thing that popped up was the 1850 census which had a William Linfor (spelled without the d) living in Ottawa, LaSalle, Illinois.[13] This was most likely brother, William, and that is why Charles ended up in Ottawa, Illinois.

I continued to search for William Linfor(d) and found out the following information. He married Dinah Essaby in 1833.[14] They had four children John 1837, William 1840, Sarah 1844, Robert 1846.[15] They came to the US 22 August 1849 and to Ottawa, Illinois on 1 October 1849.[16] In 1851 William applied for citizenship and in 1854 he became a citizen of the United States.[17] He worked as a Sexton at the West Ottawa Cemetery until the family moved to Section 20 in Allen Township, LaSalle County, Illinois in 1856. William farmed the land until 1879 when Dinah died and he moved to Syracuse, New York.[18]

In 1911 William Linfor was living at 1516 Grape Street in Syracuse, New York. At the age of 99 he was just beginning to carry a cane. The previous winter he was seen climbing a ladder to clean snow off the roof. He attributed his long life to never eating beyond what he knew he could digest. He was still in possession of all his faculties except his hearing.[19] William Linfor died on 28 January 1912 of pleurisy at the ripe old age of 100.[20]

Another 2^nd Great Grandfather, Conrad Reinhardt, settled in Amana, Iowa after coming to the United States.[21] The Amana Colonies are religious communal way of life.[22] All property was held in common and all decisions religious and secular were made by the same leadership.[23] My grandmother always said that her grandfather’s sister started the Amana Colonies, however I could never find proof of this and in researching his siblings, they all would have been too young to be involved in the founding of the colonies. I could find no evidence that any of his siblings ever lived there. Who did Conrad know in Amana, Iowa?

While I was researching a great-uncle, John C. Reinhardt, I found an article in the Sabetha Herald about John’s recollection of his childhood in the Amana Colonies, Iowa.[24] I found this interesting since he is my great grandmother’s brother and our common ancestor is his father, Conrad (my2nd great grandfather). In the article John mentions that his great-aunt was a school teacher for more than half a century. She weighed 225 pounds and was 6 feet 2 inches. The name of the great aunt was not mentioned in the article. I figured this was my 2^nd great-grandfather’s connection to Amana, and this is the reasons he chose to go there upon arriving in the US.

I had previously corresponded with the Amana Heritage Museum when needing information on my 2nd great-grandfather. I wrote to them once again and they were able to provide me with information about the aunt. The Aunt was Elizabetha Schuh born in Nussloch near Heidelberg, Baden, 26 May 1831. Elisabetha is the sister to Conrad’s mother. She came to Ebenezer Society in September 1847, then to Amana in October 1863. The Internal records of Amana Society indicate that she came with the Bortz family. The Bortz Family and another outside source claims that her parents did not approve of her relationship with a certain boy so they shipped her to America.[25] The Amana Heritage Museum history documents her as a woman of size and strength. They also said that all of the teachers were men with the exception of teaching knitting.[26] I was able to find her on the 1870 United States Federal Census[27] and the 1885 Iowa Census[28] and on both census records her occupation is listed as housekeeper not a teacher. She died on 25 March 1908 and is buried in the Amana Cemetery.[29]

By branching out and researching collateral lines I was able to resolve my curiosity as to why both 2^nd great-grandfathers settled where they did.

Note: I combined last week’s 52 ancestors in 52 weeks prompt “curious’’ and this week’s prompt “branching out” for this week’s post

[1] Obituary for Charles Bowers: Republican Times (Ottawa, LaSalle County, Illinois) February 18, 1897.

[2] New York, U.S., State Census, 1892 for Robert Bowers, Onondaga, Syracuse Ward 11, E.D. 02

[3] New York, U.S., State Census, 1892 for Richard Bowers, Onondaga, Syracuse Ward 07, E.D. 09

^[4] Baptism for Charles Bowers baptized on 2 October 1828; Register of Baptisms in the Parish of Terrington St. Clements, Norfolk, England; 1813 – 1841 manuscript on microfilm #13640109 Item 3; Utah: filmed by the Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Cambridgeshire, England

[5] Marriage Record for Bonnet Bowers and Eliza Linford married 27 April 1822; Register of Marriages in the Parish of Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk, England; 1813 – 1838 manuscript on microfilm #13640109 item 2; Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Cambridgeshire, England

[6] Baptism Record for Richard Bowers baptized 20 April 1822; Register of Baptisms in the Parish of Terrington St. Clements, Norfolk, England; 1813 – 1841 manuscript on microfilm #13640109 Item 3; Utah: filmed by the Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Cambridgeshire, England.

[7] Baptism Record for Robert Bowers baptized 25 February 1825; Register of Baptisms in the Parish of Terrington St. Clements, Norfolk, England; 1813 – 1841 manuscript on microfilm #13640109 Item 3; Utah: filmed by the Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Cambridgeshire, England

[8] Baptism Record for Eliza Bowers baptized 10 June 1827; Register of Baptisms in the Parish of Terrington St. Clements, Norfolk, England; 1813 – 1841 manuscript on microfilm #13640109 Item 3; Utah: filmed by the Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Cambridgeshire, England

[9] England Marriages, 1538–1973 database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NVJ5-JXV : 10 February 2018), William Linfor and Dinah Essaby, 14 “Oct 1833; citing Gedney, Lincoln, England, reference , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1542146 IT 1

[10] Baptism for William Linford 28 August 1811; Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk, England; Parish Register Baptism and Burials 1772 – 1812 Item 2; Microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Wisbech, Cambs., filmed 26 July 1988, Film Number 13640109, film unit # 2161 NCD 2 Roll # 5

[11] Baptism for Elizabeth Linford 30 November 1814; Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk, England; Parish Register Baptism and Burials 1772 – 1812 Item 2; Microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Wisbech, Cambs., filmed 26 July 1988, Film Number 13640109, film unit # 2161 NCD 2 Roll # 5

[12] Baptism for William Linford 28 August 1811; Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk, England; Parish Register Baptism and Burials 1772 – 1812 Item 2; Microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Wisbech, Cambs., filmed 26 July 1988, Film Number 13640109, film unit # 2161 NCD 2 Roll # 5

[13] Year: 1850; Census Place: Ottawa, LaSalle, Illinois; roll: M432_115; Page: 269B; Image: 191

[14] Biographical and Genealogy Record of LaSalleCountyIllinois(Google eBook) (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1900), p. 224 & 227.

[15] Year: 1850; Census Place: Ottawa, LaSalle, Illinois; roll: M432_115; Page: 269B; Image: 191

[16] Biographical and Genealogy Record of LaSalleCountyIllinois(Google eBook) (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1900), p. 227.

[17] National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D. C.; Soundex Index to Naturalization Petitions for the United States District and Circuit Courts, Northern District of Illinois and Immigration and Naturalization service District 9 1840 – 1950 (M1285); microfilm Serial: M1285; Microfilm Roll 112

[18] Biographical and Genealogy Record of LaSalleCountyIllinois(Google eBook) (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1900), p. 227.

[19] Henley B. J., The Art of Longevity (Google eBook) (Syracuse, N.Y, 1911), p. 223 & 224

[20] Health News. Monthly Bulletin (Google ebook) (New York State Division of Public Health Education, Albany, New York), New Series, Vol. VIII, No 1, Full Series Vol. XXIX No 1, January 1913

[21] Amana Church Membership Records, in archive collection of the Amana Heritage Museum, Amana, Iowa.

[22] Bourret, Joan Liffring-Zub and John Zug, Amanas yesterday: a religious communal society: a story of seven villages in Iowa: historic photographs 1900 – 1932. IA City, IA: Penfield Press, 2003

[23] Ibid.

[24] Sabetha, Kansas, Sabetha Herald, Wednesday, December 9, 1936, Pg. 4.

[25] Email from the Amana Heritage Society to Gail Grunst dated Friday October 13, 2017.

[26] Ibid.

[27] Year: 1870; Census Place: Amana, Iowa, Iowa; Roll: M593_396; Page: 131B; Family History Library Film: 545895

[28] Ancestry.com. Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007.

[29] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106053138/elisabeth-schuh

Favorite Picture: Three Generations 1938

January 22, 2022 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 2 Comments

I have many favorite pictures so it was hard to pick just one. This happens to be one of my favorite pictures because it is three generations of strong women. The picture was taken in 1938. From the left is my great-grandmother, Eva Bowers, my mother, Dorothy Kaiser (age 14), and my grandmother, Helen Kaiser nee Bowers. I think the picture was probably taken in front of my great-grandmother’s place in Chicago. By 1938 my grandparents were living in Villa Park, Illinois and this is not their home. I wish I could have been in the picture to make it four generations, but I was not born yet and by the time I came along, Eva had already passed away. I never knew Eva, but heard a lot about her from my mom and grandma. Eva was born in Heidelberg, Baden, Germany to Johann Konrad Reinhardt and Anna Maria Schwebler on February 14, 1877. Eva came to the United States when she was almost two years old. Her brother John was a baby. Her first home in the United States was in Amana, Iowa. They spent a few years in Amana and then moved to Ottawa, Illinois where Eva grew up with her brothers and sisters. Eva grew into a young woman and sometime around 1896 she married Robert Bowers also of Ottawa, Illinois. The family story is that Robert and Eva ran off to Chicago to be married. I have never been able to find a marriage record for them in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. According to family stories, Robert’s family never accepted Eva as his wife or acknowledged that any of the children were Roberts. I started to wonder if they were ever really married and that is why Robert’s family didn’t want anything to do with Eva or their children. However, when Robert’s father died, Robert and Eva as his wife signed a quit-claim deed to a piece of property to Robert’s mother. I was told that if they were not married, Eva would not need to sign the quit-claim deed. Perhaps they were married somewhere other than Chicago. Robert and Eva had three children, Ralph born in 1897, Helen in 1898 and Frances in 1900. Shortly after Frances was born Robert left Eva. Again family stories say they were divorced, however I have never found divorce records for them. In 1900 Eva was on her own and had to make a living for her and her three children. She raised the three children alone in a time when there was no financial support for women. Robert did not have to pay child support and there was no welfare. Eva relied on family to babysit her children while she worked. She worked a milliner and seamstress for many years. She moved to Chicago away from her support system in Ottawa, Illinois. There were probably better job opportunities in Chicago. She had a couple of long relationships with men, but I can find no proof that she married them. She always kept the surname Bowers. Eva passed away on 23 December 1941 in Chicago, Illinois.

My grandmother married in 1923 to Fred Kaiser. Because of her upbringing with no father in her life, she was determined to have a long marriage and raise her children in a home with both a mother and father. She had my mother in 1924, a son in 1930 that lived only 11 days, another son in 1931, and a stillborn son in 1933. The son born in1931 was premature, weighed 4 lbs 2 oz and fit into the palm of her hand. She had a strong belief in God and I am sure that is what got her through those years in the 1930’s. Her premature baby boy survived and died at 80 years old. Grandma witnessed the depression during the 30’s and WWII. She was a true homemaker of the day, a good cook, seamstress, and housekeeper. She had a successful long marriage that ended in October 1980 after 57 years with the death of her husband. She only lived four months after the death of her husband and died at age 82 in February 1981.

My mother’s life was probably the easiest of the three. She married George Manfroid in 1945 and had two children. She was also a homemaker of the time. The depression of the 30’s affected my father’s family more than it did my mother’s, because of my father’s experience it made him determined that his family did not go without. He bought things that they really could not afford. My mother was the one that tried to keep things in check and watch the money. They were always living paycheck to paycheck. My mother was the worrier and this bothered her a lot. In spite of my father’s foolish spending, they were happily married. Once my brother and I were old enough she went to work. She worked part-time as a cashier for Walgreens, and went to night school to learn bookkeeping. She then found a job working as bookkeeper for Slater’s Shoe Store. This was a huge help to their financial situation. My mother was healthy during her life time, but not my father. He was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1967, my mother took good care of him through his treatments and worried she might lose him. He survived it and lived another 17 years. In 1984 he was diagnosed again with cancer this time with lung cancer, and he only survived a couple of weeks after diagnoses. My mother who had never been ill with more than a cold, died suddenly three years later from a brain aneurism.

All three women had their trials and tribulations and managed to stay strong and keep going in spite of them. In-between the hard times were good times too. My grandmother looks so happy in the picture above. They all had a hard life, but it was also a good life. I think for all of us life is full of those hard times, but it is our faith and family that get us through those times.

Week 3 Favorite Picture 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Favorite Genealogy Find: Ancestor Killed in Wisconsin

January 16, 2022January 18, 2022 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 2 Comments

Of all my great genealogy finds, I think this one was my favorite. The family story was that some ancestor was killed by Indians in Wisconsin. That did not turn out to be true, but an ancestor was killed in Wisconsin by his neighbor. I first published this story in 2015 and here it is again today.

On a June day in 1907 John Desens was working on his farm in Clark County, Wisconsin near the town of Greenwood, when he noticed that something had eaten his grain. He did not own any cattle and the only cattle nearby belonged to his neighbor Fred Zell. John was walking his horses out to the pasture, when he saw his neighbor, Fred, on the road. John called to Fred and said, “Your cattle have been eating my grain.” Fred asked him, “How can you say my stock is eating your grain?” John replied, “Come and see for yourself, you can see the grain is eaten off.” Fred yelled to John, “You son of a bitch. You come on the road and I will fix you!” John said, “No, I don’t want to fight, I am an old man, and all I ask of you is to keep your stock out of my grain.” John heard the gate open, and the next thing he knew Fred had him by the throat, choking him, and pushed him up against the fence post. John took out his knife and tried to cut himself loose. He cut where ever he could. John fell and Fred fell on top of him. John didn’t want to get his eyes cut so he managed to roll over. John woke up lying in the field and an officer was talking to him. John said to the officer, “Leave me lie here a little longer and I will die. I do not want to go to jail.” The office told him that he wasn’t going to take him to jail, but to a doctor. When the officer found John, he had been cut and bleeding. John stated that his side hurt and asked for some water. The officer got him some water and noticed that John was covered with dried blood and flies. The officer also saw that there was blood oozing from John’s leg and at first thought that John had been shot. He ripped the pant leg and saw that he had a gash on his leg. The officer and some other men got a wagon, filled it with hay, got some blankets from John’s house, and took him into town to the doctor. Later that day the officer got a call to take John to the local hotel. He had taken Fred Zell there earlier that day. There was only one room available so he put John in the same room as Fred. This was in place of a hospital as there was no hospital in the town. Two days later John went by the officer’s house and said he was going to walk home. The next day Saturday the officer and district attorney went out to John’s house. They showed him a knife they had gotten from Mrs. Zell and asked him if that was his knife. John said that it was like his except that he had a piece of wood in it so that he could open it easier and this one had the tip of the blade broke off and a small piece of the blade was bent over. A week later on July 6, 1907 John succumbed to the stab wounds in his chest and died alone in his house.[1]

Fred Zell was seriously injured and it took him months to recover. His hand was almost severed from his arm. Fred did recover, but didn’t regain full use of his hand. Fred died in 1932. A newspaper account said that Fred Zell was resting his arm on the gate talking to John about the cattle when all of a sudden John started cutting Fred’s hand. [2]

When I first ran across this story, I had two newspaper accounts and a mention of it in a book.[3] [4] [5] I didn’t know if John Desens was my great-great grandfather or not. His wife had the same name as my great-great grandmother (already deceased at this time) and his one son (also already deceased at this time) had the same name as a sibling of my great grandfather.[6] I sent for John’s death certificate hoping that the informant would be some relative that I knew, but it did not list an informant.[7] Then last summer I made a trip to Clark County Wisconsin. I asked to see the probate file, but it was no longer kept there. It was now in the state archives. I then asked to see the criminal file for Fred Zell because the paper said most likely he would be charged with John Desens death.[8] I had to pay $5.00 and they would search for it at a later date and send it to me. Then I asked to see land records which I was able to see. The Land records gave a legal description and I was able to locate the farm on a current day map, but it didn’t give me any clues to if this was my ancestor or not. A few weeks later I received the criminal file. There appears to be pages missing, but there are 21 pages of testimony from the officer who found John Desens lying in his yard that day in June. So I only have John’s story through the officer. [9]

Fred Zell’s story is missing. Although, the paper had Zell’s story about how John went after him first.[10] In the end the court did not charge Fred Zell with John Desens death because lack of evidence as to who started the fight.[11] I have some questions and they were not answered in the court documents to my satisfaction. John was 74[12] years old and Fred was 46.[13] It seems to me that Fred would have the advantage being younger and most likely be stronger than John. If John cut first almost severing Fred’s hand, how could Fred have stabbed John? Did Fred have a knife on him to stab John, or did he get John’s knife away from him and use it on John? How did Fred get back to his farm or get help? Why was John left to die? It sounds like he was left lying there in the field for a long time because of the dry blood and flies on him. He was in and out of consciousness. Paper also said Fred Zell was the worse of the two,[14] yet he lived for 25 more years.[15] I think if the investigation was done today that they would be more thorough.

I sent to the state archives for John’s probate file and right on the first page is the evidence that John is my great-great grandfather. It lists my great grandfather Carl Desens at 111 Washington Street, Forest Park, IL as his son.[16] An interesting side note about the probate file. Fred Zell was suing John’s estate for $5000.[17] All of John’s 80 acres were only worth $1200.[18] He did not have much else and had some debts that needed to be paid out of the estate.[19] Fred Zell received $1.00.[20] I find this story very sad. Although I never knew my 2^nd great grandfather, I felt sad that he was left in the field to die. I felt anger at the neighbor for his part in this and the fact that he was younger and probably stronger, and frustration at district attorney for not investigating it better. There are so many unanswered questions.

I visited John’s grave when I was up there last summer, however at the time, I was not sure if he was my ancestor or not. I also did not have all the details of the crime. I would like to go back and visit his grave again and take some flowers. I want him to know that someone cares. That I care!

Week 2 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Favorite Find.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

[1] Criminal file for Fred Zell, Clerk of the Court, 517 Court Street, Room 405, Neillsville, Wisconsin 54456. Sent by Elizabeth Frost, Deputy Clerk to Abigail Grunst.

[2] Neillsville times(Neillsville, Clark County, Wis) July 11, 1907.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Marshfield Times ( Marshfield, Wood County, Wis) July 17,1907

[5] Hub of Clark County (1853 – 1934)

[6] United Church of Christ East Cemetery Index(formerly the German Immanuel Evangelical & Reformed Church) Warner Township, Clark County, WI, Compiled by Stan and Janet Schwarze.

[7] Death Record of John Desens, Pre -1907 Wisconsin Death Record County Clark, Volume # 01 Page # 438. Filed at the State Historical Archives of Wisconsin, Miroforms room, 816 State Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53706

[8] Marshfield Times ( Marshfield, Wood County, Wis) July 17,1907

[9] Criminal file for Fred Zell, Clerk of the Court, 517 Court Street, Room 405, Neillsville, Wisconsin 54456. Sent by Elizabeth Frost, Deputy Clerk to Abigail Grunst.

[10] Neillsville times(Neillsville, Clark County, Wis) July 11, 1907

[11] Criminal file for Fred Zell, Clerk of the Court, 517 Court Street, Room 405, Neillsville, Wisconsin 54456. Sent by Elizabeth Frost, Deputy Clerk to Abigail Grunst

[12] Death Record of John Desens, Pre -1907 Wisconsin Death Record County Clark, Volume # 01 Page # 438. Filed at the State Historical Archives of Wisconsin, Miroforms room, 816 State Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53706

[13] Obituary of Frederick W. Zell. Greenwood Gleaner (Greenwood, Clark County Wisconsin) August 25, 1932.

[14] Marshfield Times ( Marshfield, Wood County, Wis) July 17,1907

[15] Obituary of Frederick W. Zell. Greenwood Gleaner (Greenwood, Clark County Wisconsin) August 25, 1932.

[16] Probate file for John Desens filed in the McIntyre Library at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 103 Garfield Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701.

[17] Ibid.

[18] Ibid.

[19] Ibid.

[20] Ibid.

Our foundation: Grandpa

January 5, 2022January 5, 2022 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 1 Comment

My Grandfather provided his family with a solid foundation on which to build our lives. He not only provided this to his children, but also to his grandchildren. I knew my maternal grandparents well and they influenced me in a big way. Both of them died when I was 33 years old. They passed away within four months of each other at ages 84 and 82. I grew up just a few blocks from Grandpa and Grandma and I could walk or ride my bike to their house. I spent a lot of time with them growing up. I was just as close when I became an adult.

Grandpa was the foundation of the family. One knew where they stood with him. He said it like it was and did not mince any words. He was not mean, he just let you know what he thought. He was a moral, dependable, hard-working, kind, and a good listener. Many times, I told him my problems and he listened. Sometimes he didn’t offer any advice, he just listened. I found that he was the person that I liked talking to the most because he just listened. When he did give advice, it was always solid.

He had certain beliefs that I remember to this day. You don’t take off work unless you are really sick and a cold wasn’t reason enough to take off work. You worked through your cold; you did not take to bed. You stayed with one job your whole life. You did not quit and go from job to job. Children should have chores, and he would check to make sure they were done. Everyone must be home for dinner and eat together. If you didn’t like what was for dinner you had to sit there anyway until everyone was finished. You were not offered something else to eat. You ate what grandma made or you went hungry, and you must eat everything you put on your plate. There were hungry children in China.

He was definitely a disciplinarian. As a kid you just knew you didn’t cross him and I never tried. I can only remember a couple of times that he had to yell at me and I was devastated. I could not stand for Grandpa to be mad at me or disappointed in me. I mentioned this to my brother one time when were adults and Grandpa was long gone, and my brother said he felt the same way.

Grandpa was a steady as can be. He held down the same job for over 40 years. He and grandma were married 58 years when they passed away. They lived in the same house for over 40 years. He kept his cars for years until he had no choice but to get a new one.

Grandpa was frugal with money. He would repair things around the house until they could no longer be repaired before he would buy new. His parents gave them furniture for a wedding present, and they had that furniture reupholstered twice and still had it at the end of their lives.

My grandfather was a big man, who played sports in his youth. As he got older, he loved watching them on TV. He bowled into his old age and he loved to garden. He had a beautiful yard with flowers and a big vegetable garden. He was a big animal lover and he always had a dog. The last one was a Boxer and Grandpa would take him for walks. He’d save his last bite of food for the dog. The dog knew when it was time for Grandpa to come home from work and he would wait on the front porch for him.

Grandpa loved his family and he passed on his values to his children and grandchildren. So it is for this reason that I say he was our foundation. I married a man much like my grandfather. They both liked each other and got along well.

In his late 70’s he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and it was with great sadness that we watched my once vibrant and intelligent grandfather decline. In the end he did not know us.

Water, Water Everywhere

April 3, 2020 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 1 Comment

Bathing Beauties 1921

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge this week is “water”. I thought about this for awhile and all of my ancestors came over to the United States on boats so there is nothing new there. Then I thought about my mother’s family always seemed to live near water or take vacations that involved water. I decided on more of a pictorial history of my mother’s family and water.

My maternal grandmother was born in Ottawa, Illinois and lived there for part of her youth. “Ottawa, Illinois is situated at the junction of the Fox and Illinois rivers, nearly the geographical center of LaSalle County. The Fox enters the Illinois from the northeast and with its rapid currents feeds the Chicago and Illinois Canal, which follows the banks of the Illinois River.” [1] Both her mother and father were brought up in Ottawa, Illinois. Her paternal grandparents lived on Chapel Street in Ottawa and across the street from the river. While still a child her mother moved to Chicago and they lived not far from Lake Michigan and Lincoln Park Zoo. As adult she and my grandfather moved to Villa Park, Illinois and there is no lake or river near by. But they did take vacations to lakes. The one place they went most was to Fox Lake, Illinois.

Grandma and her best friend at Fox Lake, Illinois

They also liked Lake Como, Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Dells was another popular place with them. In fact my grandparents went to the Wisconsin Dells for their honeymoon.

Grandma at Lake Como, Wisconsin

Grandparents, Mom and ? at Big Smoky Falls, Wolf River, Wisconsin 1929

Starved Rock was another favorite destination. Starved Rock was close to Ottawa, Illinois and on the bank of the Illinois River. This was the family’s favorite picnic spot. They still picnicked there when I was growing up. If we didn’t picnic at Starved Rock we picnicked at Buffalo Rock across the river from Starved Rock. My grandmother would say that there were at least 2 or 3 drownings a year in the Illinois River because of the undertow.

Great Grandparents at the top of Starved Rock

My grandfather liked to fish and some of their excursions involved fishing.

Grandpa, dog Rudy and friend with 3 Pikes and a Bass at Sand Lake 1929

Ottawa Old and New: A Complete History of Ottawa Illinois 1823 – 1914 (Ottawa, Illinois: Republican – Times Ottawa, 1912 – 1914), p. 39.

Long Line at Western Electric

January 18, 2020 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 1 Comment

This weeks 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks prompt is long line.

img001 (4)

In 1905 Western Electric Company built a large factory complex in Cicero, Illinois. It was named Hawthorne works after the original name of the town Hawthorne, later incorporated into Cicero. Hawthorne produced telephone equipment and also some consumer products such as refrigerators and fans. The Hawthorne plant employed 45,000 people at the height of its operation.[1]

My husband had a long line of family members that worked for Western Electric that included his father, brother, aunts, uncles and cousins. Some of the family members working for Western Electric moved on to other jobs, but not his father and brother.

His father, Elmer Grunst, started working for Western Electric in 1918.[2] He started out as a draftsman and worked his way up to supervisor in the equipment engineering department at the Canal Street location in Chicago. He was active in the science and the flower and garden clubs. He was a member of Hawthorne Chapter, Telephone Pioneers of America.[3] Elmer retired from Western Electric in January 1962 after 43 years of service. A retirement party was held at the American Legion Hall in Riverside, Illinois, and in spite of 10 degrees below zero weather over 200 people showed up.[4]

Elmer, Gary, Bernie Grunst 1971 (2)

Elmer’s son also named Elmer went to work for Western Electric shortly after serving in WWII. Elmer as a newcomer in 1946 scored 11 points for the Western Electric Engineer’s basketball team. Further down in the same article his cousin Elmer Weis is mentioned, another example of a family member working for Western Electric.[5] Throughout his years he played on many teams for the Western Electric. In addition to basketball, Elmer played baseball, football, boxing, golf, and bowling. There may even be some other sport that I have forgotten. Elmer was a very athletic person. If my memory serves me right, Elmer retired from Western Electric shortly before it closed in 1983.[6] Elmer retired with about 37 years of service.

The two Elmer’s combined worked at Western Electric 70 years.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawthorne_Works

[2] Berwyn Life (Berwyn Illinois), W.E. To Honor 40-Year Vets, 7 December 1958, Sun, Pg.6

[3] Ibid.

[4] Brookfield Citizen (Brookfield, Illinois), 25 January 1962, Pg. 13

[5] Berwyn Life (Berwyn, Illinois), Four way tie in W. E. Cage Loop, 1 March 1946, Fri, Pg 8

[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawthorne_Works

Father’s Day: A Tribute to My Dad

June 15, 2019 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / Leave a comment

My Dad and me

My Dad, George Philip Manfroid, Jr. was born to George Manfroid and Helen Desens on 26 October 1919 in Forest Park, Illinois. Dad grew up in Forest Park and Elmhurst, Illinois. He went to York High School in Elmhurst, Illinois. He had a brother, Donald, 14 years younger than him. He grew up during the depression and that made a great impression on him. I remember the stories that my dad told me about the depression. When I hear about the recent recession compared to the great depression on TV, I cringe because the recent recession is nothing like what my father described to me. His father lost his business, then they lost their house, and they ate bananas for Sunday dinner. There were no safety nets like there are today for the unemployed. Because this made such an impact on my Father he decided that his children would not go without. He went without lunch for weeks and saved his lunch money to buy me a doll for Christmas. He made me a doll house with a hand saw (he didn’t have power tools at the time). He gave me everything he possibly could. Not only did he give me material things, he gave me his time, attention, advice, and love. He gave me history lessons at the dinner table. He loved history, and I learned about history and current events through dinner time discussions. He had a great sense of humor. Whenever my brother or I asked if he would buy us the latest toy or gadget, he would say, “Yes on the 42^nd of July.” Just in case they ever changed the calendar the 42^nd had to land on the second Tuesday of the week. In other words we were never going to get it. He loved gardening and painting the house. He was always painting inside or outside. He loved his baseball and the Cubs. He was always there for me whenever I needed him. If I just need to talk or if I needed a shoulder to cry on, he was there. I loved him very much and I have no doubt about his love for me.

Dad walking me down the aisle

When I got married, he walked me down the aisle and gave me away. He told my husband on our wedding day that if he (my husband) ever did anything to hurt me, he would have to answer to him (my father). After we were married for several years, my father told some friends of ours that when their daughters grew up he hoped they found someone like my husband. I picked a good man because I had a good father.

My Dad worked hard and sometimes worked two jobs to make ends meet. When I was born my dad was a bus driver. He drove a bus for a suburban bus company, Leyden Motor Coach. At first he worked nights and holidays, but as he gained seniority, he was able to work mostly days and had the major holidays off. Sometimes he would take a charter on his day off. He especially liked the ones to the ball games. He would get off work from the bus company about 2:30pm, and go to his second job driving a mini bus for a nursery school, Jack and Jill, in Villa Park, Illinois. He was with the bus company for 17 years when the company closed down. My Dad then got a job with Burney Brothers Bakery driving a delivery truck. He delivered to Jewel grocery stores in Chicago. He also took overtime delivering wedding cakes on Saturdays. After 17 years with Burney Brothers, they closed down too. At 59 years old my father was without a job, no pension, and not old enough for Social Security. He found a job doing maintenance work at the Wheaton Park District. He worked there for the next five years.

We lived in an Apartment until 1953 when my parents bought their first house in Lombard (Villa Park was across the street). We lived in that house until 1963 when they bought another house in Villa Park. In 1968 they moved to a smaller house in Carol Stream, Illinois due to my father’s health issues. My father lived in the Carol Stream home until his death.

In 1967, my dad was diagnosed with throat cancer. He was given radiation treatments for six weeks. The tumor was in his voice box, and he couldn’t talk very well. The radiation shrank the tumor so he did get his voice back. They wanted to remove the voice box to get rid of the cancer altogether, but my father said he would rather die than to be without his voice. He lived 17 more years without a recurrence. In late February or early March of 1984, we noticed my dad had slowed down. He said he wasn’t feeling good, and my mother finally convinced him to see a doctor. He went to the doctor and was sent him for some tests. He was diagnosed with lung cancer. A few days later my dad was admitted to the hospital. I went to see him and he had to cough a lot. It was deep cough and it seemed that when he coughed he could not get his breath. It was hard to watch. My last visit with my father, I noticed he kept staring at me. I thought to myself that he is studying me in case this is the last time he sees me. When it was time to go, I said “Good-bye I hope you get better soon.” He said, “Me too.” We were holding hands and he did not want to let go and neither did I. I planned to go back every day, but the next day I came down with a terrible cold that settled in my chest. I did not go to visit him because I was afraid of giving him my cold. I thought the last thing he needs is a cold. The next day my mom called me to say that the doctor called her and told her to get to the hospital he was dying. I couldn’t go because I had two small children at home. My mother and brother were there with him at the end. My mom said he kept pulling the tubes out of his arms. So I think he was ready to die.

My dad passed away from Cancer on March 15, 1984 at 64 years, 4 months, and 18 days. I wish I was there with my Dad at the end; however it is a comfort to know that my mother and brother were there for him. He is loved and dearly missed by his children, grandchildren, family, and friends. Happy Father’s Day to a great Dad! If I could tell him one thing it would be this, “Dad, the Cubs finally did it and won the World Series in 2016!”

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks topic this week Father’s Day

At the Library

February 9, 2019 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 1 Comment

I’ve have worked in libraries for many years and have used the library for my research. Way back before the Internet, I interlibrary loaned microfilm from the Illinois State Library. I ordered Federal Censuses and newspapers for obituaries. Back then it was a two-step process to find someone on the census. First I had to order microfilm of the Soundex (an index of surnames coded by how they sound) to find the roll of microfilm with the actual census. To use the Soundex, I first had to find the code for the surname I was researching. The code consists of one letter and three numbers. The letter is usually the first letter of the surname. If you were searching Smith the first letter of the code would be “S”. Here is a table to help figure out the Soundex code for the surname.

1 = B, F, P and V
2 = C, G, J, K, Q, S, X and Z
3 = D and T
4 = L
5 = M and N
6 = R
Remove these letters: A, E, I, O, U, Y, W, H

The first surname I researched on the 1900 census was Manfroid. The code for Manfroid is M-516. I knew they lived in Chicago, Illinois in 1900. I looked in a book in the library for the number of the microfilm for the 1900 Soundex for Illinois that had the code M516. I then order that roll and waited for it to come. When it finally arrived, I would search that roll of microfilm to find my ancestors. When I found them I was given an enumeration district number and some other basic information.

Here is the Soundex card found on the microfilm reel.

First of all the surname is misspelled but I was able to identify that this is the family I wanted because of the children’s names and ages. Georgie was my grandfather and I knew his name and birth date and I also knew the names of his brothers and sister. Notice the E.D. 293 that is the enumeration district and I needed that number to order my next roll of film. I would then go to another book which listed all the rolls of microfilm for the 1900 Illinois Federal Census. It identified the roll of microfilm to order by the enumeration district. I would then order that roll and when it came in, I once again had to search that roll to find the actual census that listed my ancestors. However, it was a little easier than searching the Soundex. Notice on the card that it gives the vol., sheet number, and line number that my ancestors appear on. I would then make a copy of the census. But it would not all fit nice and tidy on an 8 ½ X 11 sheet of paper. I would make several copies and paste them all together. It was black like the Soundex card and hard to read. Once I could get a nice clean copy on Ancestry.com, I threw out the old microfilm one. I kept the soundex card copy because they are obsolete when using online versions of the census, however because I knew it was spelled wrong, I found it that way. I sometimes think we could be missing records that are there but are indexed by how the census taker spelled them. Doing it the old way it was possible to find them with the names spelled wrong. I did this over and over for the entire censuses and for all the surnames in my family tree.

That was my first experience using the library for my genealogy. Since then I have used Allen County in Fort Wayne, Indiana and found my grandparents marriage record, Toledo Public library, in Toledo, Ohio; Elmhurst Public Library in Elmhurst, Illinois; Wisconsin State Archives Library in Madison, Wisconsin; Arlington Heights Memorial Library in Arlington Heights, Illinois; Cook Memorial Library in Libertyville, Illinois; McHenry Library in McHenry, Illinois; Reddick Library in Ottawa, Illinois; Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah,. I also have contacted many libraries by phone or email to ask if they have newspapers, obituaries, and other information. They have done searches for me and sent me the results at no charge.

I go to library websites where my ancestors lived and sometimes I am able to search their databases. Cleveland Public has obituaries and death records online. Forest Park Public Library in Forest Park, Illinois has their local newspapers digitized and I have been able to access them from home. I may be prejudice because I have worked in libraries for over 30 years, but they are wealth of information and I find librarians very helpful.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks week topic “At the Library”

Family Tales from Gail

My pastime is past time

52 ancestors in 52 weeks

Church Records: Finding Grandma’s Birth

Court Records: Probate

Curious and Branching Out

Favorite Picture: Three Generations 1938

Favorite Genealogy Find: Ancestor Killed in Wisconsin

Our foundation: Grandpa

Water, Water Everywhere

Long Line at Western Electric

Father’s Day: A Tribute to My Dad

At the Library

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: