Paul W. Kolk and his younger brother, Albert Phillip Kolk, were sons of John J. Kolk and Emma E. Lauck. Born in Madison County, Illinois in the early 1900s, they spent most of their adult lives in Alton. Paul was a farmer, working on his father’s farm. His brother was employed by the International Shoe Company in nearby Hartford.
On July 14, 1935, they married sisters in the Methodist Episcopal Church in Carlinville, Illinois. Carlinville is in Macoupin County just north of Madison County. However, the residence in the published marriage license notification is listed as Alton for both brothers and both sisters, so I’m not sure why they traveled to Carlinville to marry. Albert listed his age as 29, and his bride, Mabel, listed her age as 27. Paul gave his age as 32 and Gladys gave hers as 28.
Albert and Mabel had one son together. They were married for 53 years before Mabel’s death in April 1988. Paul and Gladys had a marriage of 52 years for the death of Gladys in January 1987.
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