Family History

Brick wall accidently revisited: Finding the mysterious brother William.

/ Gail Grunst Genealogy / 1 Comment

Several years ago, I was scanning documents I had collected over the years and discovered brother William living in Syracuse New York that is mentioned in my 2nd great grandfather’s obituary. It was a brick wall that was accidentally revisited.

I always wondered how or why my Great-Great Grandfather, Charles Bowers, ended up in Ottawa, LaSalle County, Illinois.  His 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 while ago I ordered microfilm from the Family History Library in Utah to look for my great-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 third 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 was baptized 28 August 1811,[10] and Elizabeth was baptized November 30, 1814.[11] 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 papers in my file cabinet under their family name and moved on to another branch.

A couple of weeks ago 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 great-great grandfather Charles.  Could this be the brother William mentioned in the Obituary?  The next thing I did was a search on William Linford.  The first thing in that popped up was the 1850 census which had a William Linfor (spelled without the d) living in Ottawa, LaSalle, Illinois.[13]  So this was most likely brother, William, and this why Charles ended up in Ottawa, Illinois.  Finding out why Charles ended up in Ottawa, Illinois was a thrill for me.  Now I wonder what drew William to 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 the roof of his house.  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] 

John served in the Civil War, and upon return home he continued to live and work on the family farm.  In 1865 he married Martha E. Patton, and they had two children, Flossie E. and Ida L.  Flossie married John Blair of Allen Township and they had one Child, Flossie.  Ida L. married Otto Strobel also of Allen Township and they had two children Martha C. and William O.[21]

Robert also served in the Civil War. After the war he returned home to farm with John.  In 1875 Robert started farming his own tract of 160 acres.  In 1867 he married Cynthia Alice Isgrig, and they had four children Carrie, Lottie, John W, Mabel.  Carrie married West Grant of Chicago, Illinois and Lottie married A. Berge of Allen Township. [22] 

William (Son) moved to Walnut, Iowa and married Lodema.  They had five children Cora S, William G, Robert, Charles, and Claud.[23] [24] 

Sarah Linfor Golder died in Kansas in 1873.[25]

Week 14: A brick wall revisited at 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Copyright © 2026 Gail Grunst

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

[2]United States Census; Year: 1900; Place: Village of Danforth, Onondaga, New York; enumeration District: 161 District 2 Scyracuse City Ward 19, Onondaga, New York; Page: 3B; Family; 63; NARA Publication Film T623; Microfilm: 1241138.

[3]New York State Census; Year 1892; Place: Syracuse, Onondaga, New York; Ward: 7; enumeration District: 9; Image: 10.

[4] Baptism Record for Charles Bowers 2 October, 1828; Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk, England; Parish Registers, Baptisms 1813 – 1841 Vol 3, Page 112, No 891;  Microfilmed by Genealogical Society Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Wisbech, Cambs; filmed 26 July 1988, film #13640109, film Unit 2161, MCD 2, Roll # 5.

[5] Marriage Record for Bonnet Bowers and Eliza Linford  7 April 1822; Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk, England; Parish Registers, Marriages 1813 – 1838 volume 4 Page 35; Microfilmed by Genealogical Society Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Wisbech, Cambs; filmed August 1988, film #13640109, film unit ser no 2161 MCD 2 Roll #11.

[6] Baptism Record for Richard Bowers 28 April 1822; Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk, England; Parish Registers, Baptism 1813 – 1841 Vol e, Page 68, No 539; ;  Microfilmed by Genealogical Society Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Wisbech, Cambs; filmed 26 July 1988, film #13640109, film Unit 2161, MCD 2, Roll # 5.

[7] Baptism Record for Robert Bowers 25 February 1825; Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk, England; Parish Registers, Baptism 1813 – 1841 Vol 3 Page 90 No 713; Microfilmed by Genealogical Society Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Wisbech, Cambs; filmed 26 July 1988, film #13640109, film Unit 2161, MCD 2, Roll # 5.

[8] Baptism Record for Eliza Bowers 18 June 1827; Terrington St Clement, Norfolk, England; Parish Registers, Baptism 1813 – 1841 Vol 3 Page 105 No 835; Microfilmed by Genealogical Society Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Wisbech, Cambs; filmed 26 July 1988, film #13640109, film Unit 2161, MCD 2, Roll # 5.

[9] Marriage Banns for Robert Linford and Elizabeth Huggleson dated 7 day October 1810, 14 October, 1810, and 21 October 1810, Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk, England; Parish Registers, Banns 1806 – 1905, Item 4, Vol. 1, Page 8, no 39; Microfilmed by the Genealogical Society Salt Lake City, Utah at the Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Wisbech, cambs; filmed 9 August 1988, film #13640109, film unit ser. No 2161 MCD 2, Roll # 12

[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 Record for Elizabeth Linford 30 November 1814; Terrington St Clement, Norfolk, England; Parish Registers Baptisms 1813 – 1841 Vol 3, # 114; Microfilmed by Genealogical Society Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Wisbech, Cambs; filmed 26 July 1988, film #13640109, film Unit 2161, MCD 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] “England, Marriages, 1538 – 1973,” Index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/Pal:MM9.1.1/NF4Q-JXW: accessed 18 Nov 2012), William Linfor and Dinah Essaby, 1833; citing reference 2:3GJG91D, FLH microfilm 1542146.

[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. 224 & 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 1013

[21] Biographical and Genealogy Record of LaSalleCountyIllinois(Google eBook) (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1900), p. 227 & 228.

[22] Biographical and Genealogy Record of LaSalleCountyIllinois(Google eBook) (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1900), p. 224 & 225.

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

[24]United States Census; Year: 1880; Place: Walnut, Pottawatomie, Iowa; Roll: 361; Family History Film: 1254361; Page: 192D; Enumeration District: 190; Image 0387

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

Copyright © 2012 Gail Grunst

Address with a Story

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In today’s blog the address with a story belonged to my husband’s maternal grandfather. Stanley Gorski emigrated from Poland to the United States in 1891[1] and settled in Cicero, Cook, Illinois where he and his wife Mary raised eight children.[2] Stanley worked in a stone quarry and for a railroad during his lifetime and somehow managed to save enough money to buy a house at 4916 W. 32nd Place in Cicero, Cook, Illinois.[3]

The building was a two flat with a ground floor basement.  In 1930 Stanley and his wife are living in one unit with four of their sons, Stanley Jr., Leo, Chester, and Felix.  Their daughter, Constance, is living in the other unit with her husband, John Jelen, and two children, Eugene and Geraldine.  Also living in the house is his married son, John, with his wife, Frances and their son, John Jr. [4] My husband said that there were rooms in the basement so perhaps that is where John, Francis, and their son lived.  By 1959 the only ones left living in the house were Stanley Jr. and Leo living on the first floor, and Constance Jelen nee Gorski, her husband John Jelen, and son Eugene Jelen living on the second floor.[5] 

In Cicero the houses are close together with a gangway between them, but on one side of this house was an empty lot big enough for another house.  But in 1930 – 1960 this space remained empty and was part of the property at 4916 W. 32nd Place.  The entire yard was fenced in and there was a garage in back.[6] Mary passed away in 1933[7]and Stanley passed away in 1951[8] leaving the house to his son Leo[9]. 

Unfortunately, in 1959 the house on 32nd place met its demise.

“Early on Monday March 9, 1959, a fire started in the first-floor living room of 4916 W. 32nd Place, Cicero, Cook, Illinois and quickly spread to the rest of the house.  By the time the fireman arrived the fire was already eating away at the attic walls.  Fire equipment was called to the scene from Morton Park, Warren Park, Clyde and Hawthorne fire stations.   Bystanders alerted the firemen that a man was still in the building.  They rushed in and found Eugene Jelen, a tenant, unconscious on the second floor between the kitchen and a hallway door.  The Firemen carried him down a stairway to safety.  Eugene suffered from smoke inhalation and second and third degree burns on the left side of his body.  If the fireman had arrived a few seconds later Eugene would have died.  Leo Gorski, owner of the building, was also hurt with first and second degree burns on his hand.  It is not known if the others who lived there were home at time.  The firemen deduced that the fire started in the first floor living room by a cigarette. The damage to the 70-year-old building was $8,000 and $4,000 for the contents.”[10]  

Leo had no insurance on the house, and they were unable to rebuild.  What was left of the house was sold, torn down, and a new house built by new owners.  Leo and his brother Stanley rented an apartment across the alley.  Constance, John, and Eugene Jelen moved to another apartment in Cicero.[11]

Too bad there was such a tragic end to this house that Stanley worked so hard to purchase.

Week 12 Address with a story 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Copyright © 2026 Gail Grunst

[1] Year: 1900; Census Place: Cicero, Cook, Illinois; Page: 22; Enumeration District: 1150; FHL microfilm: 1240292  Source Information:  Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.

[2] Year: 1930; Census Place: Cicero, Cook, Illinois; Page: 32A; Enumeration District: 2099; FHL microfilm: 2340233.  Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.  Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls.

[3] Year: 1920; Census Place: Cicero, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T625_359; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 65

[4] Year: 1930; Census Place: Cicero, Cook, Illinois; Page: 32A; Enumeration District: 2099; FHL microfilm: 2340233.  Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.  Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls.

[5] Personal knowledge from their nephew, Bruce Grunst

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ancestry.com. Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: “Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916–1947.” Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2010. Index entries derived from digital copies of original records.

[8] Chicago Tribune, (Chicago, Illinois), 18 December 1951, Page 45.

[9] Berwyn Life , (Berwyn Illinois), 11 March 1959, Page 5.

[10] Ibid,

[11] Personal knowledge from their nephew, Bruce Grunst

Elizabetha came to America against her will

/ Gail Grunst Genealogy / 2 Comments

There probably have been many turning points in our ancestor’s lives.  The main one was most likely when they made the decision to come to America.  They all came for various reasons such as economic, religion, political, avoiding military service, and some came against their will.

The turning point for one ancestor, Elizabetha Schuh, was coming to America at the young age of 16 against her will.[1] Elizabetha was born in Nussloch near Heidelberg, Baden, Germany on 26 May 1831.[2] Her parents sent her to America with family friends the Bortz family because they disapproved of her relationship with a boy.[3] She departed Le Harve, France and arrived at the Port of New York on 9 September 1847 on the ship Harve.[4] Above her name are the names of the Bortz Family, Adam (57), Margaret (47), Catherine (22), Susanna (19), Elizabeth (17), Philippina (12).[5]  Elizabetha and the Bortz family arrived at the Ebenezer Colonies in September 1847.[6]  The Ebenezer Colonies was a settlement founded by the Community of True Inspiration in what is now the town of West Seneca, New York. A congregation of Inspirationists emigrated to the site from Germany in 1843. In 1854, the Ebenezer Colonies bought land in Iowa and began relocating to Iowa in 1855 and the by 1865 all had moved away and established the Amana Colonies in Iowa.[7] Elizabetha arrived in the Amana Colonies in 1863 now age 32.[8] Maybe this was the second turning point in her life.  She continues to live in the Amana Colonies and was a housekeeper throughout her life.[9] [10]  The Inspirations history reports that she is a person of size and strength.[11] I never found any proof that she married, maybe the boy back in Germany was her one and only true love. 

Elizabeth’s nephew Conrad Reinhardt and his family settled in Amana after coming to America in 1880.[12] They only stayed a few years before leaving the Amana Colonies and moving to Ottawa, Illinois.[13]  At least for a few years, she had family there.  It seems to me that she led a lonely life, but maybe the community there was her family. 

She died on 25 May 1908 one day shy of her 77th birthday,[14] and she is buried in the Amana Cemetery.[15]  In her will dated 2 March 1900, she leaves all her property to George Bernhart residing in Amana, Iowa County, Iowa. [16]  I could not find what the relationship was between Elizabetha and George Bernhart.  It was a very simple will, and I can’t imagine that she had a lot of property as everything was communal property in the Amana Colonies.  I hope one day to find out more about Elizabetha’s life in Amana, Iowa.

Copyright © 2026 Gail Grunst

Week 11: A turning point 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

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

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Year: 1847; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: M237, 1820-1897; Microfilm Roll: Roll 069; Line: 15; List Number: 677

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid.

[7] From website: Ebenezer Colonies – Wikipedia

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

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

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

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

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

[13] Ottawa Illinois City Directories, Ottawa, Illinois1888, 1891, 1894,1895,1898, 1901, 1902, 1904, 1905, 1906,1907, 1908, 1909, 1911, 1912, at LaSalle County Genealogy Guild, 115 W. Glover Street, Ottawa, Illinois 61350

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

[15] Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.  Original data: Find A Grave. Find A Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi.

[16] Will Records, 1853-1929; Author: Iowa. District Court (Iowa County). Source Information

Ancestry.com. Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.  Original data: Iowa, County, District and Probate Courts.

Changed my thinking on DNA

/ Gail Grunst Genealogy / 1 Comment

I have been thinking about using DNA in my genealogy research.  I started my genealogy research long before the Internet and DNA. When I first heard about having your DNA done to find out where your ancestors were from, I thought it was interesting.  I had mine done through Ancestry.com years ago.  It told me I was 39% Southern Germanic Europe (Germany, Austria, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the Netherlands), 19% North Central Europe (Poland, Czechia, Germany, Austria, Hungary), 15% Northwestern Germany (Germany, Denmark, Netherlands), 15% Southeastern England & Northwestern Europe (England, Belgium, Channel Islands, France, Netherlands), 6% Southern Poland (Poland, Belarus, Czechia, Slovakia, Ukraine), 2% Western Ukraine (Moldova, Romania, Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia), 2% Sweden, (Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland), 1% Estonia & Latvia (Estonia, Latvia, Belarus, Lithuania), 1% Leinster, Ireland (Ireland) descent. I already knew most of this from my paper research which led me to Germany, Poland, Belgium, France, England, Scotland.

I knew who some of my matches were and some of the ones I did not know had no online family trees, therefore, I did not know our common ancestor.  I thought the ones that had no family tree were just interested in where their ancestors came from but didn’t care about who they were. After all the research and paper trail that I did for many years, I felt like just doing your DNA was kind of like cheating and an easy answer to your ancestry.  I ignored it for many years. 

Recently, I was working on a brick wall trying to find one of my 2nd great grandmother’s parents.  I had a lot of circumstantial evidence, but no actual documentation.  I looked at some of my DNA matches and found one 4th to 6th cousin that had her family tree online.  She has the person in her family tree who I believe is my 2nd great grandmother’s father and the person I believe is her mother.  This leads me to think I am on the right track, but I am still looking for the paper proof.  This piqued my interest in DNA.

I know nothing about DNA and how it works.  I have heard that it can help break brick walls, and I would like to know more.  I decided to enroll in an online course through the National Genealogical Society. I am currently working on module 3.  I now see how DNA can be very helpful in our genealogy research and have changed my thinking on DNA.  It is just one more tool for us to use.  It is not meant as a replacement to doing the research and gathering the documentation to prove your ancestry.

Week 10 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge: Changed my thinking

Copyright © 2026 Gail Grunst

Conflicting Clues: When was grandma born?

/ Gail Grunst Genealogy / 2 Comments

At times, I encounter conflicting information regarding my maternal grandmother. My father always maintained that she was born in 1900, a detail that was simple to remember as her age corresponded with the year. This assertion led me to accept his word without question, particularly since she passed away before my birth, denying me the opportunity to gather firsthand information. For years, I held onto the belief that her birth year was indeed 1900; however, apart from my father’s claim, I lacked substantial evidence to support it. She was reportedly born at home in Forest Park, Cook County, Illinois, contributing a nostalgic backdrop to her early life. Consequently, I endeavored to locate her birth certificate in Cook County, but my search was fruitless. It became apparent that, during that time, Illinois did not mandate civil birth records, complicating my investigation further. I speculated that perhaps her birth certificate was simply overlooked. I then sought alternative documentation through church records, anticipating they would serve as a reliable adjunct to official records. Given the lack of Internet resources for data retrieval at the time, I needed to visit the Church in Forest Park, IL. While it was not overly burdensome considering my 40-mile distance, my full-time job posed significant challenges in finding an appropriate day for the trip. I even postponed this journey for a couple of years while I explored census records. To my astonishment, she was absent from the 1900 census conducted in June, despite her birth occurring in March of that year. If she truly was born in 1900, her name should have appeared. The 1910 census recorded her at 9 years of age, while the 1920 census noted she was 19, and by the 1930 census, she was 30 years old. Depending on the census reviewed, her birth year was variably documented as either 1900 or 1901. It is well understood that census ages can often be inaccurate—frequently misreported by a year or two due to clerical errors or varying interpretations by census-takers. Further complicating matters, her death certificate listed her birth year as 1901, in stark contrast to her gravestone which proudly claimed 1900. I also received information indicating she was married in Wheaton, DuPage, Illinois. Since the DuPage County seat in Winfield was closer to my location than Forest Park, I decided to make the journey to obtain her marriage certificate. This document was particularly valuable to me because it contained her mother’s maiden name. Curiously, she married on March 22, 1919, merely a day before her birthday. The marriage certificate indicated she was 19 at the time of marriage, implying a birth year of 1899, approaching her 20th birthday the following day. However, I began to question whether she reported her age as 19 merely because she would officially reach that age the very next day. If that were the case, it might indeed substantiate her birth year as 1900. After compiling the various pieces of information, I ultimately visited St. John Lutheran Church in Forest Park in search of her birth record. Although I did not locate her birth record there, I did uncover her confirmation record, which asserted her birth year as 1900. It also indicated that she had been baptized at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Forest Park. Unfortunately, time constraints prevented me from traveling to St. Paul for further records that day. I intended to revisit Forest Park to explore St. Paul Lutheran Church at a later date; however, life’s demands deterred me from doing so. Subsequently, while researching on ancestry.com, I chanced upon the U.S. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records dating from 1781 to 1969 and decided to inquire further about my grandmother. To my amazement, I discovered her baptism record, which indicated her birth year as 1901, thereby introducing another layer of complexity to my investigation and leaving me with additional questions regarding the several date discrepancies encountered throughout my research.

Here are clues about her birth year:

  • My Father said his mother was born in 1900.
  • She does not appear to be on the 1900 Census with the rest of her family. Census taken in June 1900 Helen born in March 1900.1
  • The 19102 and 1920 Census list her age as 9 and 19 making her birth year 1901.3
  • The 1930 Census lists her age as 30 making her birth year 1900.4
  • Her marriage record list her age as 19 on the day before her birthday in 1919. This would make her birth year 1899.5
  • Confirmation record lists her birth year as 1900.6
  • Baptism record list her birth year as 1901.7
  • Her death record lists her birth year as 1901.8
  • Her gravestone says 1900.9

I chose the church baptism record showing her birthday as 23 March 1901 and baptism on 12 May 1901, as her official year of birth because the baptism is closest to her birth and most likely accurate.

Week 9 conflicting clues 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Copyright © 2026 Gail Grunst

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

2. Year; 1910; Census Place: Proviso, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T624_240; Page: 19a; Enumeration District: 0088; FHL microfilm: 1374253

3. Year: 1920; Census Place: Forest Park, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T625_362; Page: 24B; Enumeration District: 185; Image: 704.

4. Year: 1930; Census Place: Proviso, Cook, Illinois; Page: 17B; Enumeration District: 2301; FHL microfilm: 2340241

5. “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.

6. “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.

7. “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.

8. “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.

9. Ancestry.com. U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.Original data: Find a Grave. Find a Grave®. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi.

Mary’s Big Decision

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Eighteen-year-old Mary Fiderius was in love with thirty-four-year-old Isidor G. Manfroid, and on 5 February 1889 they married in Cleveland, Ohio.[1] Between 1889 and 1907 they had a total of eight children of which only five lived to adulthood. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] They moved frequently and lived in Pittsburg,[8] Cleveland,[9] Toledo[10] and finally settling in Chicago[11] around 1900. Somewhere between 1908 and 1910 Isidor and Mary divorced.[12] I don’t know the reason for the divorce and have been unable to find the divorce records. Considering Mary’s religion, the only reason for divorce was desertion. I believe that George deserted Mary and she was left with the children trying to support them by herself.  In 1908 the oldest child, George was 16 followed by Christine14, Philip 12, Arthur 7 and Theordore 4. There was not enough money to support them all.  The older children were in school or could get jobs.  If Mary went to work, who was going to take care of the younger children?  She had to make a big decision, should she give up her two youngest children?  She turned to her church for help and decided to temporarily give up her two youngest sons. Arthur went to St. Mary’s Training school for boys in Des Plaines, Illinois.[13] It was a place for orphans, neglected children, and for children whose mothers could not take care of them.  It was run by the Archdiocese of Chicago.[14]  Later, St. Mary’s training school became known as Marysville.[15] Theodore went to St. Vincent’s Infant Asylum  in Chicago[16]  This was also a place for orphans, neglected children and for families who could not support their children and also run by the Archdiocese of Chicago.[17]  Mary had already lost 3 children at young ages and now she must give up two. She did not know how long before she would be able to get them back if ever.  In 1911 Mary marries Adam Beischer.[18] Adam was working as a cigar maker, and I assume sometime after she remarried, she got her children back.  In1920 Arthur now 19, and Theodore now 16, are living with Mary and Adam.[19]  Adam helped Mary raise her sons, and they considered Adam their father and Adam considered Arthur and Theodore as his sons. Arthur grew up to become a bookie and owned a tavern in Chicago.  He married twice and had no children.  Theodore married seven times and had several children by some of his seven wives. Christine was married at least three times and had children by each husband.  George and Philip married once and stayed married until their deaths.  George had two children and Philip had one child.  Mary and Adam stayed married until Adam’s death in 1962. Mary died a few months later in 1962. [20]

Week 8 A Big Decision 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Copyright © 2026 Gail Grunst

[1] Marriage record for G. Isidor Manfroid and Mary Fiderius, State of Ohio, CuyahogaCounty, SS., 5 February 1889.

[2] 1900 United States Census, State: Illinois, County: Cook, Township: WestTown, City: Chicago, Enumeration Dist: 293, Ward 10, Sheet 16B, Line 69

[3]Certificate of Birth for Arthur Anton Manfroid, 5 January 1901, State of Illinois , Department of Public Health, Division of vital Statistics registered no 72637, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

[4] [27]  Texas, Deaths, 1977 – 1986 index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-22864-3780=71?cc=M9S8-8SD:2136566208, 1978 Vol 140, Sep, Certificates69501-70000,  Harris County, Image 149 of 579 for Theodore Manfroid 8 August 1978.

[5] Department of Health: City of Chicago: Bureau of Vital Statistics: Undertakers Report of Death for Isidor Manfroid (Son of G. Isidor Manfroid) 12247, 22 March 1901.

[6] Family Search International Genealogical Index V 5.0 North America, Batch No: C748680, Year 1890, Call No. 0499282 V.  38-40 Film type.

[7] Illinois Chicago, Catholic Church Records, 1833-1925 database with images, FamilySearch HY-DY93_dIV?cc+1452409&wc=M66L-STP%3A39600602 : 8 February 2017), Sacred Heart Parish (Melrose Park)> Baptisms Marriages 1893-1908 > image 22 of 26; Catholic Church parishes, Chicago Diocese, Chicago.

[8] Family Search International Genealogical Index V 5.0 North America, Batch No: C748680, Year 1890, Call No. 0499282 V.  38-40 Film type.

[9] Cleveland City Directories 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897 list George Manfroid living at 235 Herald, Cleveland, Ohio

[10] Toledo City Directories 1898, 1899, 1900 listed George Manfroid as living at 259 Caldonia and 255 Woodford, Toledo, Ohio

[11] 1900 United States Census, State: Illinois, County: Cook, Township: WestTown, City: Chicago, Enumeration Dist: 293, Ward 10, Sheet 16B, Line 69

[12]  Children Georgius Isidor was born in 1907 and Arthur and Theodore are living in institutions in 1910. I deduced that George and Mary must have divorced between 1907 and 1910.

[13] 1910 United States Census, Wheeling, Cook, Illinois; Roll T624-241, Page 21B, Enumeration District 0132; FHL microfilm 1374254.

[14] St. Mary’s Training School for boys now Marysville in Des Plaines . Home faced dark times before – Chicago Tribune

[15] Ibid.

[16] 1910 United States Census, Chicago, Ward 21, Cook, Illinois; Roll T624-264. Page 168, Enumeration District 0923; FHL microfilm 13742777.

[17]  St Vincent Infant Asylum The Catholic Charities St. Vincent Center Historical Marker

[18] Obituary for Adam Beischer, Oak Park Leaves May 17, 1962, P.76

[19] Year: 1920; Census Place: Forest Park, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T625 362; Page: 20B Enumeration District: 185; Image 696.   Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line].  Provo, Utah, USA.  Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009.  Images reproduced by Familysearch..  Original Data:  Fourteenth Census of the Untited States 1920; (National Archives Microfilm Publication T625, 2076 rolls)  Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington D.C.

[20] From Author, Gail Grunst’s, personal knowledge.

Suprise on 1900 Federal Census

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While researching my great grandfather, Carl Desens, I found a surprise on the 1900 Federal Census. In addition to Carl, his wife Augusta and their children there is Dorothea Zoschke listed as Carl’s mother-in-law living with them.[1] Dorothea would be my great grandmother, Augusta’s mother, taking me back another generation.  But I knew that Augusta’s maiden name was Gabbi (Gabbie, Gabbei).  I knew this from my grandmother, Helen Desen’s marriage record and from Church Records.[2][3] If Dorothea’s name is not Gabbi, then she must have remarried.  The 1900 Federal Census lists Dorothea as a widow, her birth year as 1828, her age as 72, and year of immigration as 1890.[4]  I searched ship records for Dorothea Zoschke and did not find her, however I did find a Dorothea Gabbei coming to the US on 27 May 1890 from Bremen and Southampton to New York aboard the ship Elbe.[5] She is 64 years old and her occupation is a Gentleman’s Servant.[6]  There is a two year age difference between the documents, but the year of immigration is the same.  She must have remarried here in the US, but I have been unable to find a record of it. Dorothea died in 1901 and is buried in Concordia Cemetery in Forest Park, Illinois.[7]

If I had not already known my great grandmother, Augusta’s maiden name, I might have thought that it was Zoschke and gone down the wrong path. It’s always nice to find a surprise when you least expect it.

Week 7 Suprise on Census 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks

Copyright © 2026 Gail Grunst

[1] Year: 1900; Census Place: Proviso, Cook, Illinois; Roll: 294; Page: 53; Enumeration District: 1182; FHL microfilm: 1240294.  Source Information:  Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.  Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.

[2] “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.

[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] Year: 1890; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: M237, 1820-1897; Microfilm Roll: Roll 549; Line: 12; List Number: 732.  Source Information:  Ancestry.com. New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.  Original data:  Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897. Microfilm Publication M237, 675 rolls. NAI: 6256867. Records of the U.S. Customs Service, Record Group 36. National Archives at Washington, D.C.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ancestry.com. U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. ELCA, Birth, Marriage, Deaths. Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Chicago, Illinois.

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Sisters in Time: Helen and Fran’s Unique Journeys

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I have several favorite pictures of my ancestors, and this is one of them.

I love this picture of my grandmother, Helen Bowers and her sister Frances Bowers. There was no date on this photo, but I am guessing it was around 1904. Frances is sitting and Helen is the one standing. Helen and Frances were born 14 months apart. I think they are such cute little girls and I love them both. Helen and Fran stayed close to each other their whole lives even though they led very different lives.

Helen married at 25 years old to Fred Kaiser. They had two children Dorothy and Russell. In between Dorothy and Russell, Helen had a miscarriage and they lost a baby Richard at two weeks old. Russell was born premature and according to Helen, he was so small she could hold him in the palm of her hand. Russell survived and died at 80 years old. Fred and Helen lived in Chicago until around 1935 when they bought a house in Villa Park, Illinois. Helen stayed home and took care of the house and children while Fred went to work. She played pinochle with the same group of ladies for many years. She belonged to the sewing circle at church and they made things for charity. Her hands were always busy crocheting afghans, sweaters and many other things. She was a good cook and made everything from scratch. She canned fruits and vegetables grown in their yard. She loved gardening and had beautiful flower gardens with help from Fred. She made everyone feel welcome in their home. All holiday dinners were at her house, and she did most of the cooking. She had two stoves one in the kitchen of course and one in the basement. On holidays she would run up and down the stairs between the two stoves cooking a turkey in one and a goose in the other. She and Fred were married 58 years until his death in 1980. Helen died at a few months later at 82 years old.

Fran also married at 25 years old to William Beck and in 1932 she gave birth to a daughter Patricia. A few years later, she and William divorced. Fran lived in Chicago all her adult life. She raised in daughter alone and worked to survive. They moved every few years from one apartment to another apartment in Chicago. Fran sewed for a living, working in factories that mass produced clothing. In her later years, she worked in a bridal shop making wedding dresses and formals. Fran wasn’t much of a cook, but she sure could sew. She made many dresses for me. Fran loved to shop and she would find some unusual things. When she visited us, she would bring us things like alligator meat, rattlesnake meat, frog legs, etc. She also knew how to throw parties. She would come out for my birthday parties and bring prizes, party favors, and decorate the house. She helped with Halloween parties too. She was strong and a worker. She worked until her death at 71 years old.

Helen and Frances talked on the phone almost daily, and in her younger years Fran and her daughter Pat would visit my grandmother on weekends. They would come out to Villa Park on the train either on Friday night or Saturday morning and go back on Sunday after the family dinner. Helen lived ten years after Fran’s death. She missed their daily phone calls and her confidant. They were truly sisters forever.

Week 6 Favorite Photo 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Copyright © 2026 Gail Grunst

My Breakthrough Moment

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There have been several breakthrough moments throughout the years. Today I am focusing on this breakthrough moment because the story of my ancestor’s life is tragic.

Back in 2007 I sent for my great-grandfather, Carl Desens, death certificate from Cook County, Illinois and it listed his parents as John Desens and Henrietti Gressier.[1] I looked all over for John Desens, but there were too many to narrow it down to my John Desens without more information about my John. 

Carl along with his wife and children settled in Forest Park in 1891.[2] According to my father, they went to St. John Lutheran Church in Forest Park, IL.  I went there to find my grandmother, Helen Desens, baptism record and while there I copied the records of all the Desens I could find.  I noticed on the baptism record for one of their children listed a Johann Desens, Herman Desens, and Bertha Matthews as Godparents.[3] Was this Johann Desens, Carl’s father?  And could Herman Desens be a brother of Carl’s? I assumed they probably lived in Forest Park or nearby, and I looked for them in this area with no luck.

I was having no luck on Ancestry or Family Search back then.  For some reason I googled their names.  For Herman Desens I found an obituary on Clark County Wisconsin History Page  ,  “The latest victim of careless handling of guns is Herman Desens, a man about thirty years of age who lived with his father across from Fred Zell’s place west of town (Greenwood, Clark County). Friday evening, Oct. 18, 1901, as the two were about to leave the clearing where they had been working, the young man went after his shot gun, which he had left nearby standing against a log. He seized the gun by the muzzle and drew it toward him, and in doing so the hammer cocked, discharging the load of one barrel into his breast. The father hearing the shot, looked up, but noticing his son standing thought nothing of the shot and stooped to his work, when he heard his son give an exclamation and saw him start for the house. The man only went a few yards when he dropped to the ground dead. The funeral occurred at the cemetery on the West Side Sunday afternoon. Deceased, with his father, came to Greenwood about two years ago and have lived together on their small clearing.” [4]

 I started looking around the Clark County Wisconsin History website and found a death index that listed Herman’s death as October 15, 1901, and John’s death as July 16, 1907.[5]   I also searched all the cemetery’s and found the graves of John and Herman Desens at the United Church of Christ East Cemetery.[6] 

I sent to the Wisconsin Historical Society for John’s death record hoping the informant would be a name I recognized linking him to my grandfather Carl. When I received it, there was no informants listed, however, I was surprised to see that the cause of death was multiple stab wounds to the chest.[7] This sent me back to google and the first thing I found was an article from a book Greenwood The Hub of Clark County (1853 – 1907)[8]  “Much later, Zell and Dazen, neighbors, who lived three and one-half miles west of town, quarreled and fought; Dazen with a knife, which he cut Zell in the face, on the hands and wrists. They were both seriously injured and were brought to the North Side Hotel, then operated by Gene Cummings. Both were put into the same room where they could glare at each other. By the doctor’s orders they were to be kept in bed, but Dazen got up and started for home and the next morning was found dead, just outside his own yard.”[9]  They do not give a first name, and the last name is spelled different. 

Next article that I found was from the Neillsville Times and it read as follows: “Peter Desens, who was cut in a fight with his neighbor, Fred Zell near Greenwood (Clark Co., Wis.), died last Saturday as a result of his wounds.  Zell is in the hospital Marshfield and is in precarious condition and death may come to him also.[10]

There are of course two versions to the fight.  Zell claims that Desens was the aggressor and that the fight resulted after an altercation over some cattle.  Zell says that Desens was standing near the gate at the Desens home and that the old gentleman called to him as he was passing.  As he stood with his resting on the gate, Desens suddenly drew a knife and cut him across the hand, severing the cords.  He also was badly cut about the face and chest.

Desen claimed before his death, that Zell grabbed him by the throat and that he drew the knife in self-defense.”

It will be a pretty hard matter to determine who was the aggressor in the fight, and if Zell is brought into court his plea will probably be self-defense.”  In this article the first name is Peter. At this point, I did not know if this was John Desens or not.  Zell was name in Herman’s Obituary and again in these two articles.  There was no Peter Desens in the Clark County Death Index. 

I went back to my original notes that I took when I interviewed my father back in 1979 and I had written down that some relatives were killed in Wisconsin by Indians.  This led me to believe I was on the right track, but they were not killed by Indians. 

A trip to Clark County to get more information was required to find out if John was indeed Carl’s father. In 2014 my husband and I made the trip and my goal was to:

1.  Visit the Clark County Courthouse in Neillsville to find the following

          A.  Will or probate for John Desens – Death Date 7/6/1907

          B.   Land records for land – Came there in approx. 1899.

          C.  Court record of stabbing incident with Fred Zell.

2.  Find the United Church of Christ East Cemetery.

3.  Find Farm located 1 ½ – 3 miles west of Greenwood.

My first stop at the Court House in Neillsville, Wisconsin was the Probate Office.  Since he owned land, I thought there should be a probate file. I was told that the old probate files had been transferred to the Wisconsin State Archives in Madison, but she was able to tell me that there is a file and gave me the number.  Next, I went to the Circuit Clerk to see if there was a criminal file for the neighbor that killed him.  I was not allowed to search; they will search for me at their convenience.  I filled out a form and paid $5.00 for the search.  My next stop was the land office.  The lady in this office was great!  She showed me to the Grantor and Grantee books and let me search.  I knew his death date, so I started with the Grantor books for 1907 and found the sale of the farm in Sept of 1907.  I did not recognize the name of the man who purchased it.  I copied down the information and went back to clerk with the information of the book and page number the title should be in.  She had to take to the basement of the courthouse.  The bookshelves were covered with plastic tarps, she pulls a tarp back, pulls out the book and opens to the page.  I was able to write down the legal description.  Next to that title was one for his son, and I wrote down that legal description too.  It appeared that they each owned 40 acres next to one another.  The clerk asked me if I would like to know where the farms were today.  She anticipated my next question!  We went back upstairs to look at the current plot book. By the legal description we were able to find the farms and the roads that they are on today. 

My husband and I drove out to the farm, and I was able to get some pictures and see what it looks like today.  Then we went to find the cemetery where he is buried.  I was hoping he had a headstone so I could find his grave and he did, but his son who is buried right next to him did not.  The church he went to is close by the cemetery. Both church and cemetery are close to his farm.

I sent to the state archives for his probate file and while waiting for that to come, I received the court records of the stabbing incident.[11]  The court records were an interesting read and gave me a better insight into how it all occurred and what happened afterwards, but no clue to his relationship to me.  Finally, the probate records came, and this was my breakthrough moment because after several years of searching it listed my great grandfather Carl as one of John’s heirs.[12]

Today, the probate file is available online at Ancestry.com.  My search would have been a lot less complicated if it was online back then.

Week 5 Break through moment 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Copyright © Gail Grunst 2026

[1] Certificate of Death for Carl Desens ,12 June 1921, Registration Number 1050, State of Illinois, Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Statistics, County of Cook, City of Chicago.

[2] Forest Park Pioneers, abstracted from the book Forest Park Welcomes you to its 100th Birthday Party 1856-1956  by Ellen Cannon.  Found this in the McHenry County Genealogy Section at McHenry Public Library District in McHenry Illinois.  Call # Illinois, Cook Co. 977.3 Local History

[3] Baptism Record for Henrich Herman Desens, 21 April 1895, St John Congregational Book 1887-1905, page 85, #1888 28. St John Lutheran Church, Forest Park, Cook Co., Illinois.

[4] Found on website Clark County Wisconsin History  Desens, Herman (1871-1901), Obituary, Clark Co., WI

[5] Found on website Clark County Wisconsin History DeathIndexes1873_1908

[6] Found on website Clark County Wisconsin History  Immanuel East Living Index D

[7] Death Record for John Desens, 6 July 1907, Pre- 1907 Wisconsin Death Record, County of Clark, Vol 1, Page 428. State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Microfilm room, 816 State Street, Madison, Wisconsin.

[8] Greenwood the Hub of Clark County, Compiled 1934 by the Greenwood Women’s Club, Transcribed 2001 by Janet Schwarze.  This complete manuscript with illustrations, as well as the follow-on volume “1934 to the Present”, is available in paperback for $16 from:  The Branstitter’s Museum, South Main Street, Greenwood, WI 54436. All proceeds go to this non-profit museum.  Compiled by Members of the Woman’s Club, Essalyth Andrews, Gladys Arends, Hazel Flatz, Ingebor Shields, Lillie Heilman, exofficio.  Found on website Clark County Wisconsin History.    Found on website Clark County Wisconsin History  Greenwood, Clark Co., Wisconsin History

[9]  Ibid.

[10]  Obituary for Peter (John) Desens 11 July 1907. Neillsville Times (Neillsville, Clark County, Wisconsin) 11 July 1907.

[11] I received copies of court documents  from the Clerk of the Court, 517 Court Street Rom 405 Neillsville, WI 54456 for an incident involving Fred Zell and John Desens.  There is no citation for them from Clerk of the Court.

[12] Probate Case Files, Ca. 1873-1917, and Beginning With File No. 2699, Ca. 1900-1917, 1918 (See Film Inventory Below); General Probate Index; Author: Wisconsin. County Court (Clark County).

My theory is progress: Who are Alexena’s parents?

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My theory in progress is that I think my 2nd great grandmother Alexena Frazier’s parents are Hugh Fraser and Elizabeth McBean. I do not have paper proof that I would like to prove my theory.  Maybe if I was able to travel to Ontario, Canada and search some archives, I might find a record of her parents and perhaps her birth.  All I have been able to do is search online and where she lived in the United States.  Here is what I have found to date.

 According to her death certificate and her obituary she was born in 1847 to a David Frazier and Catherine McBean in Nassagaweya, Halton, Ontario, Canada.[1]   I have been unable to find a Catherine McBean and David Frazier married to each other and old enough to be her parents in Canada.  

 I found a David Frazier born in 1832 [2] that would make him 15 when she was born.   He is most likely not old enough to be her father but maybe a brother?  According to his marriage certificate, he married a woman named Mary Robertson in 1860, and he lists his father as Hugh Fraser and mother as Elizabeth McBean.[3]  McBean was the last name listed on Alexena’s death certificate, but the first name was Catherine.  Knowing that the information on death certificates can be wrong, I thought this was a good possibility that Hugh and Elizabeth might be her parents.  Another clue is that Alexena named her one daughter, Elizabeth. On David Fraser’s death certificate in 1914, his father is listed as David Fraser and mother as Elizabeth McBean.[4]  Now the father’s name is David not Hugh.  Are David and Hugh the same person?  Maybe he was David Hugh Fraser or Hugh David Fraser. This is where my search for David Fraser born 1832 stopped.

 In searching for Alexena, I found her in the 1861 Canadian Census living with Isabella Thomas nee Davidson and Edward Thomas.[5]  Edward Thomas is the brother of George McK Thomas who is married to Isabella nee Fraser.[6] Isabella Fraser’s parents are Hugh Fraser and Elizabeth McBean.[7]  Could Isabella nee Fraser be Alexena’s sister?

Recently, I found a family tree online at Ancestry.com that has a Catherine Frazer born in 1837 and her parents are listed as Hugh Fraser and Elizabeth McBain.  Catherine was born in Ontario, Canada in 1837[8] and married William Sexton in 1862.[9]  Catherine died in 1922 in Michigan.[10]   I found this tree by looking at my DNA matches.  The woman who posted the tree is my 4th to 6th cousin. This is more proof that I am somehow related to Hugh Frazer and Elizabeth McBean. 

In continuing to search for Catherine, I found her on the 1880 United States Federal Census and she had a son, James born in Illinois.[11]  Next, I searched James Sexton and found that he was born in Ottawa, LaSalle, Illinois in 1866.[12] This places Catherine Fraser Sexton in Ottawa, LaSalle, Illinois in 1866 around the same time that Alexena came to Ottawa, Illinois.  I did a search on the surname Sexton in Ottawa, Illinois between 1850 – 1870 and found a Mary A. Sexton age 18 on the 1860 Census keeping house for an Octavius Hanbury age 35 living in Ottawa, LaSalle, Illinois.[13]  Next, I found a William Sexton (possibly Catherine’s husband) listed on the 1865 Illinois State Census in Ottawa, LaSalle, Illinois.[14] Unfortunately the 1865 Illinois State Census does not list every name, just head of household.  Right above William Sexton’s name on the 1865 Census was Octavius Hanbury.[15] This sent me on a search for Octavius Hanbury and found a Civil War Draft Registration Record for Octavius for the city of Ottawa, Illinois recorded 27 July 1863, and a few names above Octavius’ was a William Frazer born in Scotland age 22.[16] Could this be a relative of Alexena’s?  I ran into a dead end and did not find any more information on William Frazer. 

It looks like Alexena and Catherine are connected and were in Ottawa at the same time 1865 – 1866. I am guessing Catherine is Alexena’s sister.

In 1922 Catherine dies in Michigan and there is no mention of a sister Alexena in her obituary.[17] In 1924 Alexena dies in Ottawa, Illinois and there is no mention of a sister Catherine in her obituary.[18]

I am 95 % sure that Hugh/David Fraser and Elizabeth McBean are Alexena’s parents.  Perhaps, the informant on the Alexena’s death certificate mixed up her brother and sister with her parents, however I still want paper proof that Hugh and Elizabeth are Alexena’s parents.

If my theory turns out to be true, I am wondering if there was some kind of feud between Alexena and the rest of her family.  I am thinking this because her daughter was the informant on the death certificate and didn’t get the names of her parents right.  If they were close, the daughter would know that Catherine and David were her brother and sister.

I will continue to search for the documents to prove my theory.

Note: Fraser was spelled several ways in my research Fraser, Frazer, Frazier and McBean is sometimes spelled McBain.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 4 challenge “Theory in progress”

Copyright© Gail Grunst 2026

[1] State of Illinois, Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Statistics, Springfield, Illinois, Certificate of Death, Registration no. 37.

[2] Ancestry.com. Ontario, Canada, Deaths and Deaths Overseas, 1869-1952 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.Original data:  Archives of Ontario. Registrations of Deaths, 1869-1942 (MS 935, reels 1-694), Archives of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Death record for David Fraser 1914.

[3] Ontario, Canada, County Marriage Registers, 1858-1869 [database on-line] Nassagaweya, Halton, Ontario.  Marriage Record of David Fraser and Mary Robinson 21 March 1860.

[4] Ancestry.com. Ontario, Canada, Deaths and Deaths Overseas, 1869-1952 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.Original data:  Archives of Ontario. Registrations of Deaths, 1869-1942 (MS 935, reels 1-694), Archives of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Death record for David Fraser 1914.

[5] Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Census Returns For 1861; Roll: C-1031. Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1861 Census of Canada [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009.

[6] “Ontario, County Marriage Registers, 1858-1869,” database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS7D-BSCW-9?cc=2568642&wc=Q866-ZZM%3A1589652495%2C1589662401 : 31 March 2017), Halton > 1858-1872, vol 17 > image 18 of 142; citing The Archives of Ontario, Toronto.

[7] Ibid

[8] Ontario, County Marriage Registers, 1858-1869,” database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2CB-WYPH : (31 March 2017), Wm Sexton and Catharine Fraser, 06 Jan 1862; citing Elgin, Rideau Lakes, Leeds and Grenville, Ontario, Canada, Archives of Ontario, Toronto; FHL microfilm 1,030,055.

[9] Ibid.

[10] Ancestry.com. Michigan, Death records, 1867 – 1950 [database on-line], Provo, UT, USA:  Ancestry Operations, Inc., 2015.  Original data:  Death Records, Michigan Department of Community Health, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics, Lansing, Michigan.

[11] Year: 1880; Census Place: Pontiac, Oakland, Michigan; Roll: 599; Family History Film: 1254599; Page: 320D; Enumeration District: 266.  Source Information:  Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census[database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. 1880 U.S. Census Index provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints © Copyright 1999 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. All use is subject to the limited use license and other terms and conditions applicable to this site. Original data: Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

[12] Ancestry.com. Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.  Original data: Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867–1952. Michigan Department of Community Health, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics.

[13] Year: 1860; Census Place: Ottawa, LaSalle, Illinois; Roll: M653_196; Page: 509; Family History Library Film: 803196.Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

[14] Illinois State Archives; Springfield, Illinois; Illinois State Census, 1865; Archive Collection Number: 103.010; Roll Number: 2179; Line: 24. Source Information:  Ancestry.com. Illinois, State Census Collection, 1825-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.

[15] Ibid

[16] National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registration Records (Provost Marshal General’s Bureau; Consolidated Enrollment Lists, 1863-1865); Record Group: 110, Records of the Provost Marshal General’s Bureau (Civil War); Collection Name: Consolidated Enrollment Lists, 1863-1865 (Civil War Union Draft Records); NAI: 4213514; Archive Volume Number: 1 of 5. Source Information:  Ancestry.com. U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

[17] Flint, Michigan, Flint Journal, 1922- 09 -05, page 8.  Genealogy Bank.

[18] Ottawa, LaSalle, Illinois, Daily Republican Times, Monday Evening, March 8, 1926 Vol XLIX no. 208, Page 1, Front Page