In search of Henrietta

January 12, 2019January 12, 2019 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 1 Comment

52Ancestors in 52 Weeks topic this week is Challenge

One of my biggest challenges has been trying to find my 2^nd great-grandmother, Heneretti. My great-grandfather, Carl Desen’s, death certificate listed his parents as John Desens and Heneretti Gressiers.[1] I found John living in Clark County Wisconsin around 1900.[2] He owned a farm and was killed by his neighbor in 1907.[3] His son, Herman Desens owned the farm next to John, and Herman was accidently killed by a gunshot wound to the chest in 1901.[4] The United Church of Christ East Cemetery Index lists Herman’s parents as John Desens and Henrietta.[5] I do not find Heneretti with them in Clark County Wisconsin. My assumption is that she died prior to John buying the farm since she cannot be found in Wisconsin. I do not know where John lived before buying the farm in Wisconsin, however, I assume it to be Illinois, since all his children lived in Illinois. I searched different spellings of first and surnames that I could think of such as Henrietta, Henrietti, Heneretti, Henriette, Gressier, Gressiers, Gressens, and many more variations. All the searches resulted in a dead-end. Sometimes I feel I am getting close only to find out that it is someone else with the same name or similar name. I found a Henrietta Desens living in Michigan married to a John Desens and they had a son Carl. When I first saw this I thought it was my great-grandfather’s parents, but the Carl Desens in Michigan had a different birth date then my great-grandfather. Once I found my 2^nd great-grandfather, John, in Wisconsin, I knew that the John and Henrietta living in Michigan were not my 2^nd great- grandparents. I have wondered if Heneretti was a middle name that she used, and records have her first name. But without more information about Heneretti, it is like looking for a needle in haystack. I will continue to search for Heneretti and hoping one day to finally break this brick wall.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

[1] Standard Certificate of Death, State of Illinois, Cook County, Forest Park, Registration Dist. 3104, Registered no. 1050. Health Department Record, City of Chicago.

[2] Grantor Index Book, Clark County Wisconsin 1905 1/2 – 1911 ½ Vol 8, page 117, notes from mortgage: Paid off September 26, 1900. Filed at Clark County Courthouse, Recorder of Deeds, 517 Court Street, Room 303, Neillsville, Wisconsin 54456.

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

[4] Wisconsin, Clark, Greenwood, Greenwood Gleaner, 25 October 1901.

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

Conflict?

October 22, 2018 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 3 Comments

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks topic is Conflict.

In my 2^nd great-grandfather, John Desens, probate file, I found what might be a conflict. It looks like John’s son-in-law, Albert Triebes, put in a claim for $75.00 for attending to the burial of John Desens and traveling from Forest Park, Illinois to Greenwood, Wisconsin and back. His claimed was denied. [1]

john desens estae

Albert Triebes then wrote a letter to the administrator. Here is a transcript of that letter.

Forest Park, Ill

July 17 – 08

Dear Sir,

I have rec’d your registered letters. You say my claim is not legal, and the heirs do not want to allow me for the claim. Let the court decide it. Even if it will be an additional expense, I do not like to see them have their own way. For my part they can keep it all.

Yours Resp,

Alb. Trebes

91 Marengo St.

Forest Park, Ill [2]

007707854_01080

007707854_01081

It sounds to me like there was a little conflict here. My father never mentioned his cousins from this side of his family. I heard the name Triebes and that they were somehow related to my father’s family, but nobody seemed to know how they were related. My Godfather, Lou Schultz, gave me a lot of information on my father’s family too, and he never mentioned them either. This happened many years before my father or Lou were born so they may never have met any of them or even been told about this side of the family. So it is very likely there was some conflict here.

Why was John’s son-in-law taking care of the burial and not his son, Carl, my great-grandfather? Maybe there was conflict between Carl and his father John.

________________________________________________________________________________

[1] Author: Wisconsin. County Court (Clark County); Probate Place: Clark, Wisconsin. Source Information: Ancestry.com. Wisconsin, Wills and Probate Records, 1800-1987 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2015.Original data: Wisconsin County, District and Probate Courts.

[2] Ibid.

#10 Carl Desens

October 6, 2018October 6, 2018 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 2 Comments

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks topic this week is 10 — “Ten.” Ten what? Someone who had 10 children? Someone with 10 letters in their name? Someone who was in the 10th Infantry? Someone who was born in October? #10 on your ancestor chart? (That would be your paternal grandmother’s father, if you number it the standard way.) How are you going to interpret this week’s theme?

I chose my great-grandfather, Carl Desens, number 10 on my ancestor chart.

img161 (2)_LI

Carl Desens was born on the 14 December 1859 in Berlin, Germany to Johann Desens and Henrietta Gressier.[1] Carl married Augusta Gabbei [2] around 1882 in Germany. [3] Augusta was born 28 January 1859 in Berlin, Germany.[4] They had a total of eight children.[5] The oldest Emma born around 1884 followed by Bertha and Mina all born in Germany. Children Louise, William, Henry, Anna, and Helen were all born in Illinois, USA.[6] Carl and Augusta arrived in the United States on April 28, 1888 in Baltimore, Maryland aboard the ship Main along with their daughters, Emma, Berta and Mina. [7] Carl and Augusta settled in Forest Park, Illinois in 1891.[8] It is unknown at this time where Carl and Augusta resided between their arrival in 1888 and 1891. On the 5 April 1895 Carl became a United States naturalized citizen. [9] Carl worked for Public Service Company as a stationary Fireman.[10] Carl and Augusta attended St. Paul Lutheran Church and St. John’s Lutheran Church both in Forest Park, Illinois[11] Carl had a brother, Herman,[12] and sisters, Augusta and Johanna.[13] Carl died on 8 January 1921 of Uremia and Chronic Interstitial Nephritis.[14] Augusta died on 7 July 1925 of Chronic Interstitial Nephritis and Hypertension[15] Both Carl and Augusta are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Forest Park, Illinois.[16] I have no family stories that were handed down about Carl and Augusta. I did notice that they both died of Chronic Interstitial Nephritis.[17] [18] My grandmother, Helen Desens also died of Uremia and Chronic Nephritis.[19] My father said many times that kidney problems ran in his mother’s family and his mother and all her sister’s died young. I don’t know if her sisters had the same problem, but it is interesting that her parents died of the same thing. I did run across a newspaper story about Carl’s father John Desens, who was killed by a neighbor in Clark County, Wisconsin[20]. I wrote a separate story about John since there was so much information about the case. I also ran across another newspaper article about Herman Desens, Carl’s brother, accidentally shooting himself in the chest.[21] When I interviewed my dad back in 1979, he said there were some relatives that were killed by Indians in Wisconsin. I think the family story was changed from one being killed by a neighbor and one shooting himself, to being killed by Indians. . Unfortunately, my father never told me any other family stories. He was a young child when both his grandparents died, so he probably didn’t remember them. It is too bad that family stories for this side of the family seem to have been lost. So far, I have been unable to find information on Carl’s mother Henrietta Gressiers. I have not found any pictures of Carl, but did find one of Augusta Desens with my dad around 1922 or 1923.

On the 1900 census there is a Dorothea Zoschke living with the Desens.[22] She is listed as Carl’s mother-in-law which makes her Augusta’s mother.[23] She is listed on the census as 72 years old and a widow.[24] Since her last name is different from Augusta’s maiden name, Gabbei, Dorothea must have remarried. I have been unable to find a marriage for Dorothea. I did find a Dorothea Gabbei on ship records. She arrived the 27 May 1890 in the Port of New York aboard the ship Elbe, and according to the ship’s record she is 64 years old in 1890[25] near the same age as Dorothea Zoschke. I also found that she died on 23 June 1901 of Alltersschwache (decrepit, old age, infirm, senile), and she was buried in Concordia Cemetery, Forest Park, Illinois on June 23, 1901.[26] I am 90% sure that Dorothea Gabbei on the ships record and Dorothea Zoschke are one and the same. If they are the same that means Dorothea got married after arriving in the United States. I hope someday to be able to find the answers about Dorothea.

___________________________________________________________________________________

[1] Standard Certificate of Death, State of Illinois, Cook County, Forest Park, Registration Dist. 3104, Registered no. 1050. Health Department Record, City of Chicago.

[2] Marriage license and return. Illinois, DuPage, Wheaton, Illinois State Board of Health, County Clerk’s Office

[3] Year: 1900; Census Place: Proviso, Cook, Illinois; Roll: 294; Page: 53A; 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.

[4] Standard Certificate of Death, State of Illinois, Cook County, Oak Park, Registration Dist. 4318, Registered No. 395, County Clerks Record.

[5] Year: 1900; Census Place: Proviso, Cook, Illinois; Roll: 294; Page: 53A; Enumeration District: 1182; FHL microfilm: 1240294

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ancestry.com. Baltimore Passenger Lists 1820 – 1948 [database on-line]. Provo, UT. USA: Generations Network, Inc. 2006. Original Data: Baltimore, Maryland. Passenger Lists of Vessels arriving at Baltimore, Maryland , 1821-1891. Micropublication M255. RG036 Rolls # 1-50. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

[8] Abstracted by Ellen Cannon, 8138 Kostner Ave., Skokie, IL 60076 from the book Forest Park Welcomes you to its 100^th Birthday Party, 1856-1956, Pg. 47. McHenry Public Library, Illinois, Cook, 977.3, Local History.

[9] Cook County Circuit Court, Naturalization records 1895 -1896 Vol 58 – 59, LDS roll 1024, 610, R58, Pg 57, April 8, 1895.

[10] Standard Certificate of Death, State of Illinois, Cook County, Forest Park, Registration Dist. 3104, Registered no. 1050. Health Department Record, City of Chicago.

[11] St John Lutheran Church, Forest Park, Illinois and St, Paul Lutheran Church Congregational Books.

[12] United Church of Christ East Cemetery Index (formerly German Immanuel & Reformed Church), Warner Township, Clark County, Wisconsin

[13] Probate Case Files, Ca. 1873-1917, and Beginning With File No. 2699, Ca. 1900-1917, 1918 General Probate Index; Author: Wisconsin. County Court (Clark County); Probate Place: Clark, Wisconsin. Wisconsin Historical Society, Eau Clair, Wisconsin.

[14] Standard Certificate of Death, State of Illinois, Cook County, Forest Park, Registration Dist. 3104, Registered no. 1050. Health Department Record, City of Chicago.

[15] Standard Certificate of Death, State of Illinois, Cook County, Forest Park, Registration Dist. 3104, Registered no. 1050. Health Department Record, City of Chicago.

[16] Cemetery Records: Woodlawn Cemetery, 7600 West Cermak Road, Forest Park, Illinois. Woodland Section, Part 4, Lot 711 Graves 4 & 5.

[17] Standard Certificate of Death, State of Illinois, Cook County, Forest Park, Registration Dist. 3104, Registered no. 1050. Health Department Record, City of Chicago.

[18] Standard Certificate of Death, State of Illinois, Cook County, Oak Park, Registration Dist. 4318, Registered No. 395, County Clerks Record.

[19] Certificate of Death, Registration Dist. 231, No. # 22743, State of Illinois, County of DuPage, City of Elmhurst, County Clerk’s Office

[20] Marshfield Times, 17 July 1907

[21] Greenwood Gleaner, 25 October 1901. Http://wvls.lib.wi.us/ClarkCounty/ckrj/data/obits3/3.htm

[22] Year: 1900; Census Place: Proviso, Cook, Illinois; Roll: 294; Page: 53A; Enumeration District: 1182; FHL microfilm: 1240294

[23] Ibid.

[24] Ibid.

[25] 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.

[26] 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.

WWII B-17 Navigator shares my Birthday.

September 15, 2018 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / Leave a comment

2 Lt. Earl E. Triebes (Back row center) Photo taken 1 February 1945

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks topic this week is closest to your birthday. Which relative has the birthday closest to yours? Many genealogy programs will let you run a birthday or calendar report so you can identify who it is.

The Person in my family tree that shares my birthday is Earl Triebes. Earl is my 2^nd cousin once removed. Earl was born to Richard Triebes and Martha Buehler on March 13, 1925 in Forest Park, Illinois.[1] Earl’s Paternal Grandmother was Augusta Desens.[2] Augusta was the sister of my great-grandfather Carl Desens.[3] Carl and Augusta’s father was John Desens[4] who I have written about in previous posts. I hope this explains my relationship to Earl Triebes.

I never knew Earl, in fact, I did know of his existence until a couple of years ago. One of the things that I do is trace my collateral lines down to present day. So when tracing Augusta Desens Triebes’ (my great-grandfather’s sister) line down is when I found Earl. In researching Earl, I found that he was in the Army Air Force during World War II.[5] Here is a transcript of a newspaper article dated 2 June 1944:

A-C Earl Triebes at San Antonio.

San Antionio

May 23, 1944

Dear Mr. Walker:

I am another of the Forest Park Fellows in service. Since this is my first letter, I better tell you something about my training up till the present time.

To begin with I was called into the service July 1943, and sent to Miami Beach for two months of basic training. During the month of September, I was sent to Albion College in Albion, Mich. Here I studied such subjects as physics, trigonometry, map reading, history and English. We also received training at a neighboring town Marshall, Mich. After completion of my college course I was transferred to the classification center at San Antonio, Texas. Upon completion of the tests I was classified Navigator and stared pre-flight on the 29^th of February. I finished pre-flight on the 29^th of April. We were all set to leave for our next phase of training but all the schools were filled up, so we just laid around and waited. Confidentially, we still are waiting but before the week is over we will be at our next base.

Well Mr. Walker, there’s not much more that I can tell you except that I would like very much if you sent me the Review and Forest Parker. Thank you.

A/C Earl E.Triebes [6]

The next newspaper article I found was dated October 12, 1944 and included a picture of Earl. Here is a partial transcript of that article:

Earl E. Triebes is Graduate of Aerial School.

Ellington Field, Texas, Oct 12 – From the center of navigation training has just gone another big class of aerial observers, skilled in the latest methods of military course plotting, taught at this installation of Army Air Forces Training command.

At their graduation members received silver wings as navigators and bars as second lieutenant or flight officers.

Here I am skipping a couple of paragraphs because they list awards given to members of this class and athletes. Earl is not mentioned in these paragraphs.

Members of the class included: Lt. Earl E. Triebes, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard I. Triebes, 516 Des Plaines Ave., Forest Park.[7]

The third and final article I found was dated November 15 1945. Here is the transcript:

Lt. Earl E. Triebes is Discharged

Santa Ana, Calif – 2^nd Lt. Earl E. Triebes son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard I. Triebes, 516 Des Plaines Avenue, Forest Park, Ill., was honorably discharged today from (unreadable) base maintained by the Army Air Force.

Lt. Triebes is a veteran of 28 months of service in the Army Air Forces. He served in the European Theater of Operations as a B-17 navigator with the 8^th Air Force on 15 combat missions.

The AAF has awarded him the (unreadable) Medal with one cluster and the European Theater ribbon with two battle stars.

Brigadier General Arthur E. Easterbrook of the SAAAB declared:

“The fact that a man has served honorably with the AAF make him among the cream of the crop. We think many of tomorrow’s leaders will spring from the outstanding young men who have made up the victorious Army Air Force.”[8]

Here is a summary of Earl’s WWII Missions:

2Lt Earl E. Triebes (N) – Flew on 4 missions with 2Lt Leach (315, 317, 318, 322) and one mission with another Pilot (331). Became a Lead Crew Navigator: Flew two missions with a Deputy Lead Crew (338, 342) and eight missions with a Lead Crew (324, 328, 344, 348, 352, 354, 351, 358). Completed 15 combat missions on 11 April 1945 (Mission 358). [9]

Earl married Fern Alice Susal (date unknown).[10] Fern Alice passed away on 1 September 1958 in Oak Park, Illinois.[11] There is no mention of children in her obituary.[12] Earl later married again, and I believe he had two children with his second wife.[13] Earl passed away on 3 February 2001 in Wheaton, DuPage, Illinois.[14]

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[1] Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007.

[2] Augusta Triebes Obiatuary, Forest Park, Illinois, The Revie and Forest Parker, 23 May 1946, Page 1.

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

[4] Ibid.

[5] Forest Park, Illinois, The Review and Forest Parker, 2 June 1944. Page 5.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Forest Park, Illinois, The Review and Forest Parker, 12 October 1944, Page 1.

[8] Forest Park, Illinois, The Review and Forest Parker, 15 November 1945, Page 7.

[9] From Website: http://www.303rdbg.com/358leach.html

[10] Obituary for Fern Alice Triebes, Forest Park, Illinois, The Forest Park Review, 4 September 1958, Page 13.

[11] Ibid.

[12] Ibid.

[13] Found names associated with Earl Triebes in various public records data base. They may be a second wife and children. I choose to keep these names private as they may still be living and I do not have their permission to publish their names.

[14] Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007.

Augusta is Majestic and Grand

February 8, 2018 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 1 Comment

Emma, Hank, Augusta, Helen and Ann

This week the topic for 52 ancestors in 52 weeks is favorite name.

My grandmother’s middle name, Augusta, has always been a favorite of mine. It also happens to be the name of my great-grandmother, Augusta Desens. “The name Augusta is a Latin baby name. In Latin the meaning of the name Augusta is: Majestic, grand. The feminine form of Augustus; meaning majestic dignity or venerable, originally given to female relatives of Roman emperors. Famous bearer: British King George III’s mother was named Augusta.”[1] It is interesting that Augusta means majestic, grand because that is how I picture my great-grandmother. If I had girls, I was planning on naming one Augusta. My boys tell me they are glad they weren’t girls, although one has the middle name August. I thought it would go well with our last name Grunst. Augusta Desens is another ancestor that very little was handed down in the way of stories. She died when my dad was young, so he didn’t remember her very well. My grandmother, Helen Augusta, died before I was born so she could not tell me stories of her mother or her childhood. All I have are the vital statistics and the little I can piece together through records.

Augusta Gabbi was born 28 January 1859 in Berlin Germany.[2] She married Carl Desens in Germany date unknown.[3] I estimate that they were married around 1883.[4] This estimate is from the 1910 census which states they were married 27 years at that time.[5] So far I have been unable to find a record of their marriage. Augusta and Carl came from Bremen, Germany to Baltimore, Maryland, USA on April 22, 1888 aboard the ship Main.[6] Augusta and Carl settled in Forest Park, Illinois.[7] They attended St. Paul Lutheran Church[8] and St. John Lutheran Church in Forest Park, Illinois.[9] At that time the sermons were conducted in German. Carl and Augusta had eight children, Emma, Bertha, Mina, Louise, William, Henry, Ann, and Helen.[10] [11] Emma and Bertha were born in Germany, the rest were born in Illinois.[12] [13] The children grew up in Forest Park and attended St. John Lutheran School.[14] Carl worked as a stationary fireman for the Public Service Company.[15] Augusta kept house and raised the children.[16] On the 1900 census there is Dorothea Zoschke listed as Carl’s mother-in-law living with them.[17] This would be Augusta’s mother, but her name is not Gabbi (Gabbie, Gabbei). It lists Dorothea as a widow, her birth year as 1828, her age as 72, and year of immigration as 1890.[18] I found a Dorothea Gabbei coming to the US on 27 May 1890 from Bremen and Southhampton to New York aboard the ship Elbe.[19] She is 64 years old and her occupation is a Gentleman’s Servant.[20] There is a two year age difference between the documents, but the year of immigration is the same. She must have married 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.[21] Carl died on 12 January 1921.[22] Augusta died 7 July 1925 in West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park, Illinois of chronic interstitial nephritis and hypertension at 66 years, 5months, and 9 days.[23] Both Carl and Augusta are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Forest Park, Illinois.[24] I wish I had some stories of Augusta, but at least I have some old faded, and spotted pictures of her. It’s an old fashioned name and maybe it will become popular again. Maybe someday a descendant will name one of their children Augusta.

________________________________________________________________________________________

[1] From website http://www.sheknows.com/baby-names/name/augusta

[2] State of Illinois, county of Cook, city of Oak Park, Standard Certificate of Death, Registration Dist. no. 4318, Registration no. 305. Death record for Augusta Desens.

[3] Ibid

[4] Year: 1910; Census Place: Proviso, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T624_240; Page: 18B; Enumeration District: 0088; FHL microfilm: 1374253. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.Original data: Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 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.

[5] Ibid.

[6] The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Records of the US Customs Service, RG36; NAI Number: 2655153; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85. Source Information: Ancestry.com. Baltimore, Passenger Lists, 1820-1964 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Selected Passenger and Crew Lists and Manifests. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

[7] Illinois, Cook, Forest Park, Forest Park Review, July 18, 1925, Pg. 1. (front Page). Obituary for Augusta Desens

[8] Ibid.

[9] Illinois, Cook, Forest Park, St. John Lutheran Church, St John Congregational books 1887 0 1905, Pg. 70 #1711 22, Pg. 85 #1888 28, Pg. 100 #2/278 51.

[10] 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.

[11] Year: 1910; Census Place: Proviso, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T624_240; Page: 18B; Enumeration District: 0088; FHL microfilm: 1374253. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.Original data: Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 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.

[12] 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.

[13] Year: 1910; Census Place: Proviso, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T624_240; Page: 18B; Enumeration District: 0088; FHL microfilm: 1374253. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.Original data: Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 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.

[14] Told to Author by George Manfroid and Louis Schultz, grandsons of Augusta Desens.

[15] State of Illinois, County of Cook, City of Chicago, Standard Certificate of Death, Registration Dist. No. 3104, Registration no. 1050. Death record of Carl Desens.

[16] Year: 1910; Census Place: Proviso, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T624_240; Page: 18B; Enumeration District: 0088; FHL microfilm: 1374253. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.Original data: Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 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.

[17] 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.

[18] Ibid.

[19] 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.

[20] Ibid.

[21] 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.

[22] State of Illinois, County of Cook, City of Chicago, Standard Certificate of Death, Registration Dist. No. 3104, Registration no. 1050. Death record of Carl Desens.

[23] State of Illinois, county of Cook, city of Oak Park, Standard Certificate of Death, Registration Dist. no. 4318, Registration no. 305. Death record for Augusta Desens.

[24] Cemertery Records, Woodlawn Cemetery, 7600 West Cermak Road, Forest Park, Illinois, Woodland Section, Part 4, Lot 711, graves 4 & 5.

Dear Grandma

March 1, 2017March 2, 2017 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 1 Comment

Grandma Manfroid

Helen Desens

I never knew my paternal Grandmother because she died six months before I was born. For some reason, I have always felt a connection to her even as a little girl. I thought I would write her a letter to let her know my feelings for her, and the questions I would ask her if I could talk to her.

Dear Grandma,

We have never met, but I hope you know me. You died six months before I was born. I wish that I could have known you the way I knew my other Grandmother. All I have are a few scant stories of you. My dad said you had a great sense of humor and that you could be sarcastic. I might have inherited the sarcasm from you. I wonder how much we are alike. Do I look like you, is my personality like you? If we could sit down to lunch and talk, I would ask you so many questions. What was your childhood like? How did you meet my grandfather? How did you feel when my father was born? Were you happy? What was it like to have a mentally challenged son? What were your favorite subjects in school? How far did you go in school? Did you work and if so where did you work? Were you a good cook? Did you sew, crochet, knit? You could tell me about your sisters and brothers and your parents. You could tell me family stories. What was it like to live though the depression, WWI and WWII? You went to Lutheran School and Church so I guess you would believe in God and Jesus Christ. Maybe we talk about religion and our beliefs. I would ask you about your health. When you were sick were you afraid? Were you afraid of dying? Since my dad and his brother are 14 years apart, did you have a hard time conceiving? Did you want more children, did you lose any children? I wish I had better pictures of you. So that I could close my eyes see what you looked like. I wish I had a recording of your voice so I would know what your voice sounded like. When I was a little kid I would envision you looking down at me from heaven, and I would have conversations with you. I always felt like my father’s side of the family was missing. We had so little contact with any of them. As I do my research, I find that my father had a lot of cousins and they had children, yet I only knew a few. I wish I had some recipes that you handed down to me. You could have taught me to cook your favorites or my father’s favorites. There are so many things I do not know about you. I would hope that you would like me and be proud of me. I could introduce you to my husband and your great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. How can I miss someone I never knew, yet I miss you and have missed you my entire life. Some day we shall meet. Until then I love you. Rest in Peace, Grandma.

Love from your Granddaughter,

Abigail

A short biography of Helen Desens

Helen Desens was born on March 23, 1901 at home to Carl Desens and Augusta Gabbei in Forest Park, Illinois.[1] She was the youngest of eight children (5 sisters and 2 brothers).[2] She was baptized at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Forest Park, Illinois.[3] She grew up in Forest Park and attended St. John Lutheran School and Church.[4] She was confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church.[5] On March 22, 1919 she married George Manfroid in Wheaton, Illinois.[6] They made their home in Forest Park and later moved to Elmhurst, Illinois.[7] They had two sons, George and Donald.[8] Helen suffered for 4 years from Chronic Parenchymatous Nephritis.[9] Helen died of Uremia on September 4, 1946 in Elmhurst Memorial Hospital in Elmhurst, Illinois at the young age of 45.[10] Helen is buried at Chapel Hill Gardens, West in Elmhurst, Illinois alongside her husband, George.[11]

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Footnotes

[1] 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.

[2] 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.

[3] 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

[4] Told to the author by Helen’s Son, George

[5] St. John’s Congregational book 1908 – 1926, Page 227.

[6] Marriage license and return. Illinois, Dupage, Wheaton, Illinois State Board of Health, County Clerks Office.

[7] Told to Author by Helen’s son George.

[8] Personal knowledge of Author.

[9] Certificate of Death, Registration Dist. 231, No. # 22743, State of Illinois, County of DuPage, City of Elmhurst, County Clerks Office.

[10] Certificate of Death, Registration Dist. 231, No. # 22743, State of Illinois, County of DuPage, City of Elmhurst, County Clerks Office.

[11] Cemetery Records, Chapel Hill Gardens, West, Roosevelt Rd. at Route 83, Elmhurst, Illinois.

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