Larkin and Levi Adamson are not the same person!

 I have often seen Larkin and Levi Adamson listed as one and the same person, sometimes listed as Larkin Levi Adamson. Both of these men were sons of Simon and Eleanor Routh Adamson. Simon Adamson was my 4th great grand uncle. Simon and Eleanor had twelve children.

Larkin Adamson's gravestone shows that he was born in 1806.

In 1823, Larkin married Nancy F. Routh in Jefferson County, Tennessee.  Nancy's gravestone shows that she was also born in 1806. Both of them would have been about seventeen years old at the time they married. 

In 1830 Larkin Adamson was shown on the 1830 Census in Jefferson County, Tennessee. That census indicated that he was born between 1790 and 1800.

In 1836, Levi Adamson married Mary "Polly" Ann Benton in Ray County, Missouri. Levi was twenty-five years old at that time.

Levi Adamson and Larkin Adamson were each listed in the 1840 Census for Platte County, Missouri. 

The 1840 Census showed that Larkin was born between 1801 and 1810.  It also showed that there was one male between 5 and 9 years old, one male between 10 and 14 years old, and 2 males between 20-29 years old living there, along with Larkin's wife and 2 slaves. I have not found that Larkin and Nancy had any children, so I don't know who these children are.

Living next door to Larkin was "Levy" Adamson. The census shows that Levi was born between 1811 and 1820. It shows his wife and 2 males under 5.

In 1850 the brothers were still living next door to each other in Green, Platte, Missouri. Levi was listed as age 40 and Larkin was listed as age 44. Both were listed with their wives. Four children were listed with Levi. Larkin was listed as a Farmer and Levi's occupation was listed as a Tailor.

I have yet to locate either Levi or Larkin in the 1860 Census. However, Levi L Adamson was listed in the Collin County, Texas Tax Rolls for 1862 and 1865.

Levi Adamson died in February of 1870 in Collin County, Texas. He had been a farmer and died of consumption. He was aged fifty-nine.

Larkin Adamson was listed in the 1870 Collin County, Texas Census. He was listed with his wife, Nancy, and a ten-year-old son, Theodore, who was born in Texas in 1860. 

I have researched this "son" of Larkin and Nancy. He was the son of Larkin's older brother, Thomas H Adamson. Theodore is listed in the 1880 Collin County, Texas Census living with his brother Larkin, who was the eldest son of Thomas H. Adamson. So that made Theodore our Larkin's nephew, not his son. 

Larkin Adamson died on the 13th of January in 1872 according to his tombstone in Collin County, Texas. His wife Nancy died the following year.

Based on all of this evidence, I am quite certain that the two brothers were not one and the same!

The Cody Brothers-1800's in Peoria, Illinois

 I was going to write a blog about my great-great uncle Joseph F. Cody, but as I got researching, I decided that first I wanted to examine how the Cody family got involved in living in Peoria, Illinois. So this blog is about Joseph Cody Sr. and his two brothers, Thomas and Michael J Cody, who all came over from Ireland.

Joseph Cody was born in Ireland in about 1840. He married Mary Ann Lamb in March of 1863 in Peoria, Illinois. That year Joe was listed in the Peoria Directory as a boilermaker. Joe was also listed in the 1865 Census for Peoria, with a female and two sons. One would have been James, but the other son is not listed in the following years. In 1866, Joe purchased some property in Peoria. He paid $1075 for Lot #1 in Hasler and Cocles (?) Addition.

In the 1870 Census, Joe and Mary had two children, James, age 6, and Honnora, age 1. Joe's brother, Michael Cody, age 22, was also living with them and was listed as a Mechanic. Joe was a Boilermaker. The value of Joe's real estate was listed as $500 and the value of his personal items was listed as $1500. In the 1871 Directory Thomas (another brother of Joe's) and Joseph Cody were listed as Cody Bro. "proprietors of Union Boiler Works, manufacturers of steam boilers, tanks and all kinds of sheet-iron work". Joseph lived on Merriman St. as did Michael Cody, Boilermaker. In 1871, Joe purchased property for $500 in Johnson's Addition, along Merriman St in Johnson's Addition. The 1876 Directory shows Joseph Cody (Cody and Brown). Joe Cody and JP Brown were proprietors of Union Boiler Works. In 1878 Joe purchased property for $700 in Section 30 in Township 8. In 1879, he purchased more property in Peoria from Matthew Heneberry. Joe paid $1328.20 for Lot #10 in Dobbins Subdivision.

In the 1880 Peoria Census, it appeared as if both children, James and Honnora, had died. Joseph and Mary were listed with five children: Joseph 9, Edward 7, Mary 6, Rosa Ann 3, and William 1. Joseph was listed as a Boilermaker. In the City directory, Joe is listed as working for McAleenon and Cody. The 1887 directory shows Joe working for Cody and Lamb (Joseph Cody and Thomas Lamb-Joe's brother-in-law).

Joe purchased a lot of property in 1880: in January he and Michael McAleenion paid $600 for one package and $1462.50 for more in the same at Washington and Oak in Peoria. I am guessing that perhaps this is where they were building a new shop. In April of 1880, Joe paid $800 for 2 lots in the McReynolds Spurch Addition in Peoria.

Also in July of 1880, Joe's brother Thomas (who had moved to Kansas City, MO) and Joe had a Warranty Deed where he sold to Joe all of lots # 9 and 10 in Block #5 of Bradley's second addition. In the 1884 Peoria Directory Joseph Lamb, apprentice, lived at 815  First, as did his father Thomas Lamb (Cody and Lamb). This was Joe Cody's home.

The Peoria Census taken in 1888 shows Joseph and Mary with children: Joseph Jr 17, Edward 15, Mary 14, Roseanna 11, Margaret 7, and Francis 5. Their son William was not listed-he would have been eight years old, so is presumed to have died. The family was living at 815 First St. in Peoria. This home remained the family home for all of the family for many years. Edward and Joseph and their families all lived there through at least 1900. Various other family members were often listed there also. In 1884, Joseph Lamb was listed there working as an apprentice and Thomas Lamb (Mary Ann's brother) was living there (part owner of Cody and Lamb).

In 1890, the Peoria Directory shows that Joe was the Vice President of Industrial Boilermaker Works. His sons Joseph F. and Edward worked there. Joe also built Cody Apartments this year at 818 W Moss in Peoria. The apartments are still there and are gorgeous.

Joe Cody died on the 2nd of February in 1892 in Peoria at the age of fifty-two. He died from Rheumatism of the Heart. He is buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Peoria. Buried with him are his wife Mary, and children Frank T. Cody, James, Mary Mollie Cody Mahoney, and Mary A Mahoney (granddaughter), and an infant who died in 1927 (grandchild?).

The year he died the Peoria directory shows that Cody and Sons (Joseph F and Edward M Cody, two of his sons.) had been formed. Joe Cody, Sr. appears to have been a quite ambitious man throughout his life.

Joe's wife, Mary Ann (Lamb) Cody remained in the family home. In the 1900 Peoria Census, it shows that she had 6 out of 13 children living there. I have only found eleven children born to them. Her children Edward, Mary, Rose, and Frank lived there with her. She was still living there in 1910 with daughters Mollie and Rose and son Frank. It states that Mary had her own income. Frank died in 1910. Daughter Margaret died in 1914. Joe Cody's wife Mary died in 1918. She is buried with Joe at St. Mary's Cemetery in Peoria.

The youngest of the three Cody brothers that I have found was Michael J Cody. He was born about 1848 in Ireland. He was listed as age 12 living with his brother Thomas Cody in 1860 in New Orleans. In 1870, Michael was listed in the Peoria Census as living with Joe Cody and his family. He was 22 and was working as a Mechanic. In 1873, Michael married Annie Whalen in Peoria.  That same year Michael and Thomas R Daniels paid $1100 for a lot in Rigg's Addition. Then in 1875, Michael purchased the property from Thomas R Daniels for $700. He also purchased another lot in the same addition for $400. In 1879, Michael and Annie sold property in Rigg's Addition for $2000.

By 1880, Michael and Annie had two children, Thomas J. age 6, and Joseph T. age 2. Michael was working as a Saloon Keeper. Sadly, Michael died the following year in November of 1881 of Consumption. His address was at 815 Second Ave. in Peoria, the Cody family home. He was only thirty-three years old. In the 1888 Peoria Census Annie was listed with her children: Nora 11, Thomas 13, Joseph 9, and Teresa 6. Annie must have been pregnant with their fourth child when Michael died.

Annie died in 1913 and is buried with Michael.

The other brother that I have found was Thomas Cody who was born in about 1836 in Ireland. He married Alice Mullay in about 1858. In 1860, Thomas and Alice were listed as living in New Orleans, Louisiana. Thomas was a blacksmith. Michael Cody, age 12 born in Ireland, was listed as living with them. In 1865, Thomas was listed as a Boilermaker in Peoria, Illinois. Thomas paid $1150 for property owned by  Tobias Bradley in 1867.

Thomas and his family were listed in Peoria, Illinois in the 1870 Census. At that time, Thomas and Alice had 3 children: Joseph William, age 9, Hannah, age 4, and Mary, age 6/12. Joseph William was born in Louisiana, and the younger two children were born in Illinois, which means that Thomas and his family were probably in Peoria by 1866. In 1871, Thomas was listed as an owner of Cody Bro. with Joseph Cody. In 1873, Thomas bought property from Lydia Bradley for $575 listed as Lot 9 and 10 in Block 5 in Bradley's Second Addition in Peoria. This is the property that he sold to Joe Cody in 1880.

By 1880, Thomas and his family had moved to Kansas City, Missouri. He and his son Joseph were listed as Boilermakers. Thomas's daughter was listed as "Hannora" in this census. Daughter Mary was not listed, presumed to have died.

Thomas died in 1899 in Independence, Missouri and Alice died in 1897 in Kansas City Missouri; Thomas was 63 when he died.  His daughter Mary had died, his daughter Hannora had married S. Devine, and his son Joseph was living in Peoria, Illinois. His son Joseph worked as a boilermaker for all of his life.

Since I only know of three Cody children (Joseph "Joe", Thomas, and Michael) I realize that it is likely that there were other siblings that I have not found. At this time, it is not known who their parents were. I feel fairly confident that their mother's name was Hanora as each of the three brothers named their first daughters that Hanora.

Other Cody references I have found for Peoria:

-Anna Cody married George Potts in 1888 in Peoria. According to marriage records, Anna's parents were James and Bridget Baty Cody.

-Joseph Cody (son of Patrick and Annie Wallace Cody) was born in Kilkenny in 1824. In 1865 he married Margaret Walsh (also from Kilkenny) in Peoria. Joseph was a brickmaker.

-Joseph Dalton was born in Kilkenny in 1826. He was the son of Thomas and Mary Cody Dalton. In 1861, he married Catherine O'Neil in Peoria.

-Patrick Cody enlisted to serve in the Civil War on 11 April 1865 in Peoria.

So far, I have been unable to find connections to The Cody brothers that I have written about in this blog. I wouldn't be surprised if there are connections, however!

Lucille "Lucy" V. Ryan-a short, but interesting life

 Lucille V. Ryan (or Lucy as it appears that she was called) is my second cousin two times removed. Our common ancestor is Johanna Murphy. She married John Ryan. Johanna was my second great grandaunt. She was Lucille's grandmother. 

Lucy was born in August of 1883 in Illinois to Edward F. and Ellen "Nellie" Curran Ryan. To the best of my knowledge, she was their fourth child. Her father was a coal miner, as were some of her brothers.  

The first record I have of Lucy in the 1900 Bennington, Marshall County, Illinois Census. She was listed as sixteen years old, living with her parents, two sisters and five brothers. Lucy was listed as age 16 and being in school. Lucy also had an older brother, John J. Ryan, who was not in the census with the family in 1900. John Ryan was living in Chicago with his wife and daughter in the 1900 Census. (*see notes below)

In the early 1900s Lawrence played baseball for the Pittsburg Pirates and a couple of other teams. Lucy taught school in the Toluca, Illinois area for six years until she married in 1909. In 1908, Lucy's mother Ellen died. Lucy married Lawrence J. McGonigal the following year in Henry, Illinois.  

By 1910, Lucy and Lawrence were living in Aurora, Illinois.  Lawrence was listed as a switchman for the railroad. Also living with them were two of Lucy's brothers, Frank and Edward.

The 1920 Bennington, Marshall County, Illinois Census showed Lucy and Lawrence living with their three daughters. The children were ages seven, six and five.  Also living with them were Lucy's father, and two of her brothers. Lawrence was working for a Coal Mine.

Lucy's father Edward Ryan died in 1927. In 1929, Lawrence and his family were sent to Russia (actually Kharkev, Ukraine) as a resident consultant engineer with a firm from Chicago for a two-year assignment. Their three daughters were sent to a convent school in Switzerland while Lucy and Lawrence were in Russia. Before Lawrence's two-year assignment was complete, Lucy became ill, had a surgery in Vienna, then was sent to Geneva, Switzerland for recuperation. It was thought that she was recovering well. However, in February in 1931, soon after the surgery, Lucy died. Her death certificate listed that she died from a heart embolism. 

Information found from the Report of the Death of an American Citizen-American Consular Service:

Lucille was age 46 when she died on the 5th of February in 1931. Her place of death was listed as "Pension Sergy, Geneva, Switzerland". She died of heart failure (embolism). Disposition of her remains was "Provisionally place in vault in Geneva". "Disposition of effects: In custody of her husband, Mr. Lawrence J. McGonnigal." "Remarks: The husband arrived from Russian and took entire charge of the estate, and also made arrangements respecting the remains."

I found this story to be so interesting that the Lucy experienced life in Russia in the 1930s. But so sad that her daughters were left in Switzerland, and then that Lucy died. After her death, the family took her body home, and they settled back into Illinois. Lawrence remarried the following year.

*Back to Lucy's brother John J. Ryan...his grandmother, of course, was Johanna Murphy Ryan. He married Mary Elizabeth Corrigan, whose mother was Mary Murphy Ryan Corrigan. Mary was Johanna Murphy's sister. So, John and his wife Mary Elizabeth were first cousins once removed. I was so surprised at that connection! You never know just what you might learn!

Joseph F Cody 1870-1927

Joseph "Joe" F Cody, Jr. was born on the 14th of November in 1870 in Peoria, Illinois. He was the son of Irish immigrants, Joseph and Mary Ann Lamb Cody. His parents had married in Peoria in 1863. Joe was the fourth of ten children. It appears as if two of the oldest children died very young as they are only listed in the 1870 census for the family. 

 Little is known of Joe's younger years. In the 1880 Peoria, Illinois Census it showed that Joe was nine years old and attending school. 

 

 The earliest that I have found Joe working for his father as a boilermaker was in 1887 when he was seventeen years old. The family was listed in the Peoria Illinois 1888 Census, living at 815 First St. Listed were Joe's parents Joseph and Mary Cody with children Joseph, Jr., age 17, Edward, age 15, Mary, age 14, Roseanna, age 11, Margaret, age 7, and Francis, age 5. This is all the information that this census gives.

Joe Cody, Jr's father died in 1892. The same year, in the Peoria City Directory Cody and Sons was listed at 1014 S. Washington; Joe Sr's home was at 815 First. Listed as living there were: Edward M Cody, Miss Mary Cody, Mrs. Mary Cody (wid. of Joseph), Miss Rose C Cody (bookkeeper at Cody and Sons), and Joseph F Cody. 

On the 22 of January in 1896, Joe Cody married Alice Murphy, daughter of William Murphy (my gg-grandfather) in Peoria, Illinois. Witnesses to the marriage were Dennis O'Connell and Alice Smith (a cousin of Alice Murphy's). And in November of 1896, Joe and Alice had their first child, Ethel Marie Cody. She was baptized at St. Patrick's Church in Peoria. Her godparents were Patrick Murphy (Alice's brother) and Rose Cody (Joe's sister).

 The following year (1897) Joe was in Chicago at the annual convention of Knights of St. John where he was elected to the office of supreme trustees. From Wikipedia: "Today’s Catholic fraternal order of the Knights of St. John was officially incorporated May 6, 1886, though its roots run older, amongst a spectrum of Catholic knightly orders of the late 19th century. Its most valued traditions have held constant ever since: inward traditions of loyalty, fidelity, Faith, and honor, and outward traditions like its uniforms and insignia." In 1899, Joe was listed as employed as a boilermaker at Jos. Cody & Sons; He and Alice and daughter were now living at 1018 First St. in Peoria. 

 In the 1900 Peoria Census Joe and Alice were listed as living at 1018 First St. They lived there with their daughter Ethel, and Alice's two youngest brothers: Emmett, age 21, and Edward, age 19. Both of the brothers worked as clerks for the Board of Trade (Edward was my great-grandfather). Joe was listed as a Boiler Manufacturer. In 1901, Joe and Alice's first son was born. Sadly, he died in infancy. It appears that Joe and Alice had twins in 1903, a son was born named Robert, and a daughter was stillborn at birth on the 28th of November 1903.  At this time, the family had moved to a home at 1029 Moss Avenue in Peoria.

 

In 1904 Joe Cody was awarded the contract for a bridge across the Illinois River in Peoria. The price was $225,000. At this point in time, Joe was considered wealthy. His business was flourishing and he wanted to branch out. Before construction ever began there were concerns. No other bids had been considered, and Joe had never done any construction work like this. The work began in 1906 and took about 3 years. The words that Joe gave in a newspaper interview would haunt everyone- when asked if the bridge would stand Joe quipped "It will stand at least until the city pays me." A week later, a city engineer looked over the bridge and declared it consisted of "rotten cement" and "old steel". The bridge collapsed into the river on April 30th, 1909.  And in bad timing for Joe, he had just cashed the last check from the city a few days before, so his words were true (sadly for him). 

1905 brought the birth of Joe's second daughter Mary A Cody. She was baptized at St. Mark's Church in Peoria. Her godparents were Mr. and Mrs. Ed Cody (Joe's brother and wife).  Joe and Alice's son Robert died in 1905 when he was two years old. A daughter, Mary A. Cody was born in February of 1905, and in 1907, their last child, Elizabeth C. was born. 1907 was when the family moved into the new home that Joe had built for them at 751 Moss Avenue (now at 1635 Moss). [I was only in the home once, in 1981, after Mary Cody (Joe's daughter) died. She and her sister Ethel had lived in the home with their spouses until Mary died. The home was absolutely stunning!]

 The 1910 Peoria Census showed Joe and Alice living at their home on Moss with their 3 daughters and Alice's brother Robert Emmett, age 30, listed at the Board of Trade as a Grain Dealer. And there was a servant, Orlo Sullivan, age 22. Joe was listed as a Dealer in Boilermakers. In 1911, Joe was elected as President of the Trustees of Police Pension Fund. It appears that Joe and his family were doing well during these years, though other stories that I have read have declared him ruined and penniless. 

 In the years between 1910-1920 one of Joe's brothers died, 2 of his sisters died and his mother died. That must have been a lot for the family to deal with. 

The picture above is of Alice, Joe, and Ethel Cody on the steps of their home.

 

In 1920, Joe was listed as age 48 and was a Boiler Shop Owner. He lived at 751 Moss with his wife, Alice, and their 3 daughters. In 1924 the Peoria City Directory shows Joseph F and Edward M Cody worked at Jos. Cody & Sons, and that Joe's daughter Elizabeth was a student (at Bradley University). Joe saw his first daughter, Ethel marry in 1925. 

 Joseph F Cody died on the 1st of May in 1927. He is buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Peoria, His wife Alice lived until 1944.  She and their daughter Mary, daughter Ethel, and Ethel's husband Hal Johnson are all buried with Joe.

Joe's obituary stated:

"JOSEPH F. CODY PASSED TO HIS REWARD, AGE 56

Prominent as Citizen and in Business

Another old and highly respected Peoria resident has passed in the person of Joseph Cody, president of the firm Joseph Cody and Sons, boilermakers who died last evening at 8:50 o'clock at the St. Francis hospital at the age of 56, and following an illness of f___ weeks duration. A heart ailment was the direct cause of death. 

Mr. Cody was of a Peoria generation whose names are writ large in terms of a city, progress, and unceasing labor or civic betterment. A man enjoying an enviable reputation in the minds and hearts of his fellows, his passing will leave a pall of grief among those who called him friend and they are legion.

In High Esteem

In this and other cities, Mr. Cody's unusual business ability was well known.  He was regarded as a man of shrewd judgment, of rare perseverance and tact, and with a genuinely friendly disposition which made and led to him lifelong associates and workers in his employment. At the time of his death, he was president of the National Steel Tank Manufacturing company of Bradford.

Mr. Cody was born November 14, 1870 in this city. His father before him was of a family well known in Peoria, especially among residents of the South Side, where the family lived. He received his early education in St. Patrick's Parochial school and later attended Brown's Business college. Later he was taken into the firm of his father's founding and upon his death ascended to the presidency.

Funeral Wednesday

On January 22, 1896, he was married to Mary Alice Murphy in Peoria and to this union were born three daughters, who with his grief-stricken widow survive: Mrs. Robert Brown and Mary and Elizabeth Cody, all of Peoria. A brother, Edward Cody, Peoria and a sister, Mrs. Charles A Rudel, Los Angeles, California, also survive. 

Mr. Cody was well known in a fraternal and social way. He was a member of Spalding Council, Knights of Columbus and of the Creve Cour club. He had been a member of St. Mark's Catholic Church for the past 25 years. He was also treasurer of the Peoria police pension fund.

Friends will gather at St. Mark's church Wednesday morning at 9 o'clock to pay a final tribute to a man who held so high a place in their affection and esteem. Rev. Father J J B? will officiate and interment will take place in St. Mary's cemetery."

In Joe's will he left everything to his "beloved" wife, Alice, including 166 and 2/3 shares of National Steel Tank and Manufacturing Company in Bradford, Illinois.  She chose to sell those shares to a private buyer. The shares were worth $16, 600.00. The Petition to Sell Personal Property at Private Sale stated that the shares "comprise a substantial share of the personal estate of the said Joseph Cody, deceased; that ownership of said stock necessitates management of said Nation Steel Tank and Mfg. Co. that your petitioner is not able to properly manage same; that she now has a purchaser for said stock who is ready, willing and able to pay a price therefor which your petitioner, who is both executrix and sole legatee under the Last Will and Testament of said Joseph Cody, deceased"

I have been fascinated researching Joseph F. Cody. I think that he must have led quite a colorful life. I have heard so much about him throughout my life and feel like I knew him. He died one year before my mother was born.! But my older relatives talked about him often, and I knew his daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. He must have had a very strong presence!

Etta May Bradley

This is the story of Etta May Bradley. She was my great-uncle's mother, and she seemed to live an interesting life, to say the least. She was taken to court at two different times to be tried for insanity, once by her father, and then by her husband. She disappeared with her five-year-old child for five months, Her relationships with her father and her stepmother appear to have been quite contentious.

 Etta May Bradley was born on the 13th of July in 1868 in Bloomington, Illinois. She was the oldest of six children born to Sylvester and Jennie Motter Bradley. 

In the 1870 Census for Bloomington taken on the 12th of July of 1870, Etta "Ettie" was listed as age three, living with her parents, a younger brother, and her uncle. Her father, Sylvester, and his brother (the uncle living with them) were listed as "Peddlers".   The following month (August 1870), Etta's younger brother William H. Bradly died. He was one year old.

Over the next ten years, three siblings to Etta were born: Bert Henry Bradley born in 1872, Cora Belle Bradley born in 1875, and Harry Bradley, born in 1877. All of them were born in Bloomington, Illinois. In the 1880 Census for Bloomington, "Ettie" was listed as twelve years old, living with her parents and three younger siblings. Her father, Sylvester Bradley, was listed as a "Lighting Rod Salesman".

In 1883, Etta's sister Daisy Alma Bradley was born.

Etta was listed in the Peoria, Illinois City Directory as living with her father at 606 W. Mouton in Peoria.  She was listed as "May Bradley".

Etta married William Nungester in May of 1890 in McLean County, Illinois. They were each twenty-one years old. They had a son in June of 1891 but sadly, he only lived for one month.

In the Monroe County Indiana Circuit Court in the December term of 1892 Etta stated that her husband had deserted her and did not leave sufficient provisions for her support. She asked for $500. It was also reported "That said plaintiff has no children but is now expecting to be delivered of a child in June 1893" and "That said plaintiff now resides with her father and is being cared for and supported by him."

In the Elkhart Daily News (Elkhart, IN) on December 7, 1892, the headline was TRIED TO GET RID OF HIS WIFE.  The article stated that William was trying to have his wife found insane. however, Etta was examined and found to not be insane. She was described as "24 years old, handsome, and has the appearance of being a girl of refinement and culture.", 

In June of 1893, Etta and William did indeed have a baby, a daughter named Florence. In August of 1893, Etta's mother died.

It seems as if William and Etta divorced between 1893 and 1896, as William married Eliza Parker in 1896, probably in Ohio.

On the second of September of 1897 Etta's father, Sylvester Bradley, alleged that Etta was insane. His witnesses were Carrie Bradley, Catherine West, and Harry Bradley (Etta's stepmother, her step-grandmother, and Etta's brother). After the evidence was examined, Etta was found to not be insane.

An article from The Decatur Herald (Decatur, Illinois) Sunday, September 5, 1897, stated the following:

"Bloomington, Ill., September 4-After a bitterly fought trial in the probate court Etta Nungester was declared not insane. The case attracted unusual interest on account of the attractive appearance of the girl and the efforts made by her own father to have her placed in an asylum. Her father is a business man of this city and the daughter married against his will to a young man who proved to be worthless. He deserted his wife and child and Mrs. Nungester and her little one were forced to stay at the home of her father. She was tolerated for a time, but recently Bradley's wife, the stepmother of Mrs. Nungester began to make life disagreeable for the daughter. She refused to have her about, and the father decided to have his daughter adjudged insane, as the cheapest way to get rid of her. The poor girl was without money and the friends who rallied to her support were equally penniless. Without a lawyer to defend, the outcome of the case appeared dark.  Before the trial came off, however, Jacob Bohrer, assistant states attorney, learned of the facts in the case and agreed to defend her. His handling of the case was successful, and despite the great number of witnesses placed on the stand by the plaintiff the girl was freed. She was completely prostrated by the strain of the examination."

By the end of the month, the following article was written about Etta (found from 29 September 1897, Bloomington):

"Sues for $2000- Etta M. Nungester yesterday began suit in the circuit court against Sylvester Bradley and wife for $2000. Mrs. Nungester is a daughter of Bradley by a former wife, and the suit grows out of daily troubles. The daughter and stepmother have not got along well together. The daughter is married and has one child, her husband having deserted her. A short time ago an effort was made to prove Mrs. Nungester insane. It failed and since then she claims she has not been provided for by her father. She has attempted to obtain work, but the proceedings in the county court against her have so injured her chances that no one will employ her."

From the 11th of November 1898, an unknown Chicago paper: 

Mrs. Nungester, No. 606 West Moulton street, Bloomington, has written Postmaster Gordon asking for information about her daughter, Etta May, who left her home several months ago. The daughter was accompanied by a 5-year-old child, and Mrs. Nungester is much distressed at the absence of the wanderers."

And then from the Bloomington, Illinois paper on the 30th of November 1898:

" Spirits Were Mistaken.
-Mrs. Etta Nungester, who has been missing, has returned home. A spiritualistmedium is said to have reported her dead in Chicago, as the result of a seance. She has been in Indianapolis ever since she left the city."

Then in 1900, Etta was living with her father and stepmother in Peoria, Illinois on Cornhill St. Her father was listed as a "Manufacturer". Also living in the household were her stepmother's mother, Etta's sister Daisy, and a boarder. Etta was listed as widowed. Her daughter Florence is not listed with the family. Florence is also not listed with her father William and his wife.

In 1901, Etta was listed in the Peoria City Directory as "Mrs. May Nungester, widow of William H." She was living on Cornhill St. with her father;

 According to a birth certificate found in Chicago, on the 2nd of November in 1901, in Chicago Illinois, Claude Thompson was born to William Thompson and Etta Bradley Thompson.  This is the birth of my great-uncle, Claude Sylvester Bradley. He is the reason why I began researching this fascinating woman, Etta May Bradley.

Etta was listed in the 1904 Peoria, Illinois City Directory as "Mrs. Etta Nungester". She was living with her father.

To finish this sad story, in 1905 Etta was listed in Peoria City Directory as Mrs. Etta Nungester, and she lived in Peoria Heights. So it is not a given that she had been married to William Thomspon if that was actually the name of Claude's father.

On the 26th of February 1906, Etta May Bradley Nungester died from pulmonary tuberculosis. She was thirty-seven years old. Her death record stated that she was a "widow by law". She is buried in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery in Bloomington, Illinois.

When Etta died her daughter Florence was twelve years old. In 1910 Florence was seventeen years old working as a Milliner at a store and living with Etta's sister Belle in Bloomington. She married later that year. 

Claude was four years old when Etta died. In 1910 he was living with his grandfather Sylvester Bradley and his step-grandmother. Sylvester died on the ninth of June in 1917. Caude had lived with him until his grandfather died. In 1918, before his sixteenth birthday, Claude joined the service. His sister Florence was listed as his next of kin. He joined Company B, 124th Machine Gun Battalion, 33rd Division.

My great-grandfather, Edward Richard Murphy

 I knew my great-grandfather, Edward Richard Murphy. I was ten years old when he died. It occurred to me that I was probably the only person living who remembers him. My sister was only one year old when Edward died. But then I remembered that I have a cousin who also has memories of him. So it is time that Edward is memorialized in this blog.

Edward Richard Murphy was born in Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois to William and Elizabeth Smyth Murphy on the 3rd of September 1880. The family was living at 1503 S. Adams St., in Peoria. Edward was the youngest of six children.  

Between 1880 and 1882, the family moved from Adams St. to 311 Chicago St. in Peoria. Edward was two years old when his mother died giving birth to a stillborn baby girl. His mother's death left his father with six children at home to care for. In 1884 Edward's father remarried, a year after his wife Elizabeth's death. He married Anastasia Heneberry Cunningham who was a widow with six children. 

In January of 1890, Edward's stepmother died. He was ten years old. Sadly, his father died in December of 1891. My guess is that the only real stability Edward had in his life during his younger years probably came from his siblings, most likely his sister who was ten years older than him. 

Edward's only sister married in 1896. The first record I have of Edward following his birth record is from 1899 when he was listed in the Peoria City Directory as a clerk at SC Bartlett and resided at 1018 First St., where his sister, her husband, and their baby lived. Edward was listed in the 1900 Peoria Census with his brother Emmett. They were living with their sister and her family. Both were listed as Clerks at SC Bartlett Board of Trade.

In 1902, at the age of twenty-three, Edward married Kathryn "Kitty" Hanauer. She was twenty years old. Their witnesses were Edward's brother, Charles Murphy, and Katherine Lyons. In December of that year, Edward and Kathryn were witnesses to the marriage of Charles and Katherine's marriage!

In 1903, Edward and family were living at 211 Armstrong Ave. in Peoria, Illinois

Sometime in 1903-the family had moved to 521 Fredonia Avenue in Peoria, Illinois. The picture below is of a pregnant Kitty awaiting the arrival of their first child!

A year after their marriage, Edward and Kitty had a daughter, Genevieve Elizabeth. Elizabeth was the first name of both Edward and Kitty's mothers. I would love to know where the name Genevieve was from!

1904- Genevieve Elizabeth Murphy 13 months old.

Edward and Kitty's first son was Edward Francis Murphy who was born on the 20th of August in 1906 (my grandfather). He and Genevieve were listed in the 1910 Peoria Census with their parents. Edward was listed as a Clerk at the Board of Trade (he was still with SC Bartlett). The family was still living at 521 Fredonia in Peoria.

Edward F. and Genevieve Murphy:

Land Records for Peoria Illinois show that Edward R. Murphy purchased property from W.S. Parry and Alice E. Clarke for $341.25. It was for Lot 163 in Clarke Place.2 He also purchased Lots 15,16,17,18,19, and 20 in Dobbins Subdivision.

By 1912, the family had moved to 121 Clarke Avenue in Peoria.  Edward was still working for SC Bartlett as a clerk. In 1918, he was listed as a Buyer for SC Bartlett.

121 Clarke Ave. in Peoria, Illinois

The 1918 WWI Draft Registration Card shows Edward listed at 121 Clark and was a Grain Dealer for SC Bartlett. Edward was marked as "Short" with blue eyes and black hair.

In 1920, the Peoria Census listed Edward, Kitty, Genevieve, and Edward along with Edward's mother-in-law Elizabeth Hanauer living at 121 Clark St. in Peoria. Edward was listed as a Vice-President for Stacy Grain. Elizabeth is listed as a Nurse (she was a midwife). On the 16th of October of 1920, Edward's brother Patrick Murphy died, the first of his siblings to pass away. Patrick was fifty-two years old. Edward was forty years old at the time.

March of 1921 brought a new addition to the family. Joseph Francis Murphy was born to Edward and Kitty! Edward was forty years old. Their children Genevieve and Edward were seventeen and fourteen years old, respectively. In 1924, another brother, Charles Murphy died. 

1921 Edward R. Murphy holding his new son Joseph.

In 1927, Edward and Kitty's son Edward married Mabelle Linnea Seeber. And the following year, their first grandchild was born, Patricia Genevieve. She was named after Edward's brother Patrick and his daughter Genevieve.

Edward turned fifty years old in 1930. The Peoria Census shows him living at 121 Clark Ave. in Peoria with Kitty, Genevieve, and Joseph. In 1931, Edward's oldest brother James Francis Murphy died. The 1930s brought more changes to Edward's family. Another grandchild, Edward Charles Murphy, was born in 1933. 

Edward continued to work for SC Bartlett until 1936. At that time, Edward was listed as a grocer, living on Columbia Terrace. 

1937-house and shop at the corner of Columbia Terrace and Bestor in Peoria, Illinois.

However, The 1940 Peoria Census lists Edward as age 59 and employed as a Grain Dealer, Board of Trade, which indicates that he was still working for SC Bartlett. In this census, Kitty was listed as the proprietor of a grocery store.  It also showed Genevieve, age 36, as a secretary at a hotel (Pere Marquette Hotel). She had completed four years of high school. Joseph was listed as age 19 and had completed one year of college.

In 1942  Edward's WWII Draft Registration listed him as age 61, living at 901 Columbia. He was employed by Stacy Grain (which may have been SC Bartlett). Edward and Kitty's son Joseph's Draft Registration listed him as age 20, a student at the University of Illinois in Champaign Urbana, Illinois.

From 1943 to 1945 Joseph served overseas in the United States Air Force. "Joe" married Catherine Freeman in 1948. They briefly lived in Chicago, but by 1950 Joe and Cathy had moved to Indianapolis. 

In 1944 Edward's sister Alice Murphy Cody died. She had dementia for several years and was kept at her home. I'm sure it was hard for Edward to lose her, the only mother figure he had known. He had two more brothers die, both in January of 1949. They were Robert Emmett Murphy and William Henry Murphy. Robert had spent the majority of his life in an institution in St. Louis. He was diagnosed with depression and dementia. Edward was then the only one of eight children left living. 

1947- Edward and Kitty in front of their home at 901 Columbia Terrace, Peoria, Illinois.

Edward and Kitty were listed in the 1950 Peoria Census still living on Columbia Terrace in Peoria. It appears that Edward had retired. He was listed as age 69 and had a confectionary retail candy and ice cream store. Genevieve was still living with her parents. She was forty-six years old and an Executive secretary at a hotel (the Pere Marquette Hotel in downtown Peoria).

In 1952 Genevieve (age forty-eight) married Wayne Matheny (age thirty-six) who went by "Wayne West", his show name. He had popular shows on the radio and later became a popular  TV star in Peoria.

1952-Edward and Kitty's 50th wedding anniversary. Pictured standing are their children Edward F., Genevieve, and Joseph Murphy.

I remember going to Edward and Kitty's little store on Columbia Terrace. It was attached to their home and next door to a grade school, so they often had many customers there. What I recall was the wonder of all the candy and ice cream. I was only five or six years old. And, of course, I was allowed to get whatever I wanted!

By 1955, Edward and Kitty were living in an upstairs apartment in the house where Genevieve and her husband lived. It was at 115 Samuel in Peoria Heights, Illinois. I have very clear memories of being there, but all I really remember of Edward (my great-grandfather) was of him sitting in a chair reading either a newspaper or a book. I also remember that he had a great smile! He was a very self-educated man and hated President Roosevelt. He was a very quiet man, small in stature.

Edward Richard Murphy died on the 12th of December 1959. He was seventy-nine years old.  His obituary stated that he had been "in failing health for about four years" and that he "had made his home for the last two years with his son, Edward F. Murphy". I was quite sure that this was untrue and so I sent for and received his death certificate. As I had recalled, he was in the Peoria State Hospital for two years and died there. My guess is that the family did not want it known that he had died there and thus changed the circumstances for the obituary.

Edward was survived by his wife, Kitty, his three children, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Sadly, his wife Kitty died in August of 1963 and his son Joe died in October of 1963. His son Edward died in 1976 and Genevieve died in 1992.  

Alice "Allie" Reade

For a St. Patrick’s Week Challenge, I am writing about my great-great-great-grandmother Mary Alice “Allie” Reade. She is as far back as I have been able to go with my Murphy ancestry, and she was one of the first I found when I went searching for Murphy relatives at the local Catholic cemetery in Peoria in about 1995. It saddens me that I don’t know a lot about “Allie”. She proved to be one of those elusive women who quietly lived out their lives. Yet she must have been a strong woman to endure as she did.

 Alice was born in 1801 in County Kilkenny, Ireland. Her parents were James and Alice "Ally" Lawlor Reade. Known siblings of Alice were Anne, Bridget, Joan, Thomas, and Catherine. Alice married James H. Murphy on the 23rd of October in 1831 in Kilmacow Parish, County Kilkenny, Ireland. Alice was thirty years old and James was twenty-eight years old at the time of their marriage. Alice’s sister, Anne Reade, was a witness to the marriage, along with Thomas Holden. 

James and Alice had seven known children all born in County Kilkenny: Johanna Murphy, born 25 March 1832; James Reade Murphy, born 25 July 1833; Mary Murphy, born around 1837; William Henry Murphy, born in 1838 (my great-great-grandfather); Catherine Murphy, born 19 March 1839; Ellen Murphy, born 05 May 1841; and Margaret Murphy, born 8 August 1844. Alice’s sisters, Bridget and Joan, were godparents for two of Alice’s children.

 Sometime in 1848, James and Alice and their seven children (ages four to sixteen) arrived in the United States in New Orleans and spent a year there. They then came on to Peoria County, Illinois settling in Kickapoo Township, Peoria County, Illinois. 

The 1850 Kickapoo, Peoria County, Illinois census shows the Murphy family living with the Philander Chase family. During these times, Philander Chase sponsored families coming over from Ireland. James Murphy ended up working for him for several years, as head gardener and opening up a quarry for him.  

Between 1849 and 1855 some of Alice’s family from Ireland came to the Peoria Illinois area. Patrick Reade and his children settled in Peoria, and Daniel Reade’s children settled in Peoria. I believe that Patrick and Daniel were cousins of Alice. Also, her first cousin, Nicholas Reade Henebery settled in Peoria with his family. Alice’s family appears to have been close to all of these relatives as they are involved through the years with each other, as witnesses to various sacraments, etc.

 Three of Alice’s children married between 1850 and 1860. Johanna married John Ryan in 1852. Mary married James Ryan (brother to John) in 1854 and in 1856, James married Julia Henebery (daughter of Nicholas Reade Henebery, and James’ second cousin). In 1855 James and Alice were listed in Kickapoo, along with one son and two daughters. Living next door to them was their daughter Johanna and her family. 

It seems that the families stayed in Kickapoo in the same places for a few years as they were listed in the 1860 census still next door to each other. In this census, James and Alice were listed with one son, William, and two daughters, Ellen and Margaret, but also living with them was their daughter Mary and her family. Johanna and her family were still next door to James and Alice. James was listed as a farmer.

 Over the next ten years, the remaining children of James and Alice married: Ellen married Edmond O’Neil in 1861; Catherine married John Dolan and William married Elizabeth Smith, both in 1864; Margaret married Francis Smith (brother to Elizabeth Smith) in 1866. All of the Alice’s children were married in Peoria County, Illinois. 

So by 1866, after thirty-five years of marriage, James and Alice Murphy had an empty household. By 1869, James was listed as living in Peoria, so he and Alice must have left farming and moved to the city. By then James was sixty-six years old, and Alice was sixty-eight. In the 1870 Peoria Census James was listed as a City Policeman. They were living next door to their son James R and his family.

 James continued to work and was listed in the 1880 Peoria census as a Policeman for the Depot. In this census, Alice was listed as “Invalid”. The census was taken on the 2nd of June in 1880. Alice died at her son James’ house on the 9th of July in 1880. She was seventy-nine years old. Her cause of death was listed as “Dementia and Old Age”. 

Obituaries found for Alice included the following: From the Peoria National Democrat--July 10, 1880: "DIED Murphy-In this city at the residence of her son, James R. Murphy, corner 2nd and Merriman streets, Mrs. Alice Murphy, wife of James H. Murphy, in the 79th year of her age; Funeral will take place from her son's residence Sunday, at 2 o'clock pm. Friends and acquaintances are invited to attend." 

 From the Peoria Evening Review-July 9, 1880 "MURPHY-In this city at the residence of her son, James R. Murphy, corner 2nd and Merriman streets, Mrs. Alice Murphy, wife of James H. Murphy, in the 79th year of her age. Funeral will take place from her son's residence Sunday at 2 o'clock pm. Friends and acquaintances are invited to attend." 

 And from Peoria Evening Review-July 12, 1880: "The funeral of Mrs. James Murphy, which took place on Sunday was attended by a large concourse of people. The procession of carriages that followed the remains to the grave was nearly a mile long." 

 I do wonder why there was not a church funeral for Alice. The family had been devout, active Catholics. She was buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Peoria, Illinois. She shares a tombstone with granddaughters Alice and Jennie, children of her son James R. The tombstone reads: Alice Read Murphy, Alice and Jennie. Her tombstone is next to her son James Reade Murphy's tombstone. 

 Alice’s husband, James H. Murphy, lived for another ten years and stayed with their daughter Ellen in Crescent City, Illinois. James Murphy died in 1890 in Crescent City, Iroquois County, Illinois. He is buried in St. Mary's Cemetery in Gilman, Illinois with his daughter Ellen Murphy O'Neill and family. 

This always strikes me as so sad that James and Alice were not buried together after all that they had lived through. Having seven children, moving to a new country, and then having to deal with Alice’s dementia as they settled into older age must have been so difficult. Surprisingly for the times, none of Alice’s children preceded her in death. Alice had fifty-seven grandchildren when she died. Two more were born after her death. Six of Alice’s children had daughters named “Alice” after her. She left a large family that thrived throughout the years. 

As a side-note: Alice is the first of the Murphy side of the family who I have found with dementia. It has remained constant throughout the years in the direct line through her son William Murphy and his descendants. The family always thought it was from the Murphy side of the family, but actually, in our case, it appears that it is possible that it came from the Reade part of the family.