Genealogy

The Quiet Life of Martha

/ Gail Grunst Genealogy / Leave a comment
Martha is on seated on the left. Picture taken around 1960.

Not all of our Ancestors live exciting, glamourous, or dangerous lives. In fact, most of them led just quiet normal lives which makes writing a story about them difficult. Martha Treppa was one of those people who led a very quiet life. Martha is not an ancestor, but someone who was like family. She was my grand uncle’s sister-in-law.

My grandmother’s brother, Ralph Bowers, was married to Helen Treppa.  Helen had a sister Martha who lived with Ralph and Helen.  When Uncle Ralph and Aunt Helen came to holiday or Sunday dinners, Martha was usually with them.  Martha (Marty was her nickname) paid a lot of attention to me when I was a child, and I loved the attention.  I remember her as a very sweet and quiet lady.  At the time, I just enjoyed Martha’s company and attention, and never thought about her life.  So I really don’t know very much about it.  All I really know is from researching records, and there are not a lot of records on Martha.  No surprises surfaced like a secret marriage or illegitimate children.  She must have led a very normal quiet life, just like I thought. 

Martha was born to John and Helen Treppa on 4 May 1911 in Cook County, Illinois.[1] Martha was the youngest of five children.[2] The family lived at 1441 Lill Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.[3]  When I knew Martha she lived in that same house on Lill Avenue with her sister Helen and brother-in-law Ralph Bowers.  They lived on the second floor and someone else lived downstairs.  In 1940 her brother John and his family lived on the lower level[4] and sometime later they moved and then the apartment was rented out.

Martha worked as a packer for a wholesale meat company.[5]  She always seemed old-fashioned and she was the typical maiden aunt of the time.  Martha died 7 August 1992 at 81 years, 3 months and 3 days old in the state of Washington.[6]

I will always think of Martha with love and remember her kindness and quiet ways.

Week 16: A quiet life @ 52Ancestors in 52 weeks.

Copyright © 2026 Gail Grunst

1] Ancestry.com. Cook County, Illinois, Birth Certificates Index, 1871-1922 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.  Original data:  “Illinois, Cook County Birth Certificates, 1878–1922.” Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2009. Illinois. Cook County Birth Certificates, 1878–1922. Illinois Department of Public Health. Division of Vital Records, Springfield.

[2] Year: 1920; Census Place: Chicago Ward 24, Cook (Chicago), Illinois; Roll: T625_335; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 1359

Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.  Original data: Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: NARA. Note: Enumeration Districts 819-839 are on roll 323 (Chicago City).

[3] Ibid.

[4] Year: 1940; Census Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Roll: m-t0627-01012; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 103-2902.  Source Information:  Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.  Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2014.  Original data: Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration.

 

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.

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Sisters in Time: Helen and Fran’s Unique Journeys

/ Gail Grunst Genealogy / Leave a comment

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 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

Helen suffered many hardships

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At the turn of the 20th century, my grandmother Helene Margarete Augusta Desens came into this world.  She was the youngest of eight children born to Carl and Augusta Desens.  She was born and grew up in Forest Park, Illinois.  She attended St. John Lutheran Church and school.  I never had the privilege of knowing my paternal grandmother because she died six months before I was born.  For some reason, I always felt connected to her.  As a little girl, I would visualize her looking down from heaven and watching me.  My father never told many stories of his mother except that she had a great sense of humor and could be sarcastic.  I wanted to know my grandmother like I knew my maternal grandmother.  My grandmother suffered many hardships and died at a young age.  I think that is why her story means so much to me.

In January of 1919 she anxiously awaited the return of her boyfriend to come home from France after serving in WWI.  Two months later, Helen married George Manfroid the day before her 19th birthday.  Near the end of 1919 she gave birth to a baby boy, George, Jr.  For the next 10 years, life was pretty good for them.  My grandfather work and she stayed home with their little boy, George.  They lived in Forest Park among both of their families.  They visited back and forth with family and friends.  My grandfather bought a gas station and they bought a house in Elmhurst, IL where her sister Annie lived.  Life was good!

Then the great depression happened.  It hit them hard.  My father always talked about it.  He was only 10 when it happened, yet it made a big impression on him.  My grandfather lost his business, and he had a hard time finding work.  They lost their big house in Elmhurst, but somehow, they managed to buy a smaller house in Elmhurst.  The house had a living room, dining room, kitchen and one bedroom and one bathroom.  My father slept in the living room on the sofa. 

My grandmother worried about where they were going to get their next meal.  Sometimes they ate bananas for Sunday dinner.  In 1933, during height of the great depression Helen gave birth to another son Donald.  He was born mentally challenged.  I often wondered if my grandmother did not get the right nourishment during her pregnancy.  As he grew older, he could not feed himself, dress himself, or go to bathroom on his own.  He was non-verbal and my father said that Donnie could be a handful. Helen became his full-time caretaker. I can’t image how she handled this alone while my grandfather tried to find employment and finally did with the American Can Company.  She had a big family so maybe her sisters pitched in and helped her.  My father was 14 when Donnie was born so maybe he helped after school.  Although, my father left high school when he was 17 to find work to help support the family. I don’t know how much help he was after he started working.  When Donnie was about 11 years old, Helen was diagnosed with Parenchymatous Nephritis (kidney disease and failure).  She suffered with this for 4 years.  Image having to take care of her son Donnie and at the same time she was sick.  Treatment for this during the 1940’s was dietary modifications mostly milk and low salt diet to control Edema, bedrest and warm clothing, antibiotics for secondary infections.  She could not rest when she had a son that needed her.  I don’t know if she followed the dietary recommendations or had antibiotics. After four years of suffering, she succumbed to the disease.  She was hospitalized over Labor Day weekend with Uremia and was there for five days. On the fifth day she died at 46 years old leaving behind a husband and two sons. During the five days, the doctor never came to see her until the day she died. My father thought the doctor and the hospital didn’t do enough to save her.  They just let her lie there and die.  After that, my father would have nothing to do with doctors or hospitals for a long time.   Donnie was 13 years old and still needed his mother.  I wrote about Donnie’s story on my blog several years ago you can find it at Meeting Uncle Donnie.  As it turned out, Donnie can understand more than he is able to verbalize.  He did manage to tell me one time, “Ma is with God.” 

Knowing about the hardships she faced in her short life is why her story means so much to me.  We all face some hardships in our lives, and I certainly have in my long life.  Mine were different than hers, but I feel I can relate to her. Maybe someday I will get to meet her in Heaven for the first time.

Week 3 What this story means to me 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks