To learn more about 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, hosted by Amy Johnson Crow, visit her website here.
This week the prompt is 'Family Photo’, so I am sharing a family photo I came across last fall. Pictured are Louis D Striebel wth his father, Louis F Striebel, his in-laws, Ella and Frank Hixon, and Walt Williams, who I believe may be the uncle of Frank. Young Louis married the daughter of Ella and Frank, Lucile Striebel in about 1922.I’ve not yet done much research on this branch, but it is possible that Will Williams is a brother to Frank Hixon’s mother, Mary Charlotte Williams. I don’t know when or where this photo was taken.
To learn more about 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, hosted by Amy Johnson Crow, visit her website here.
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Valentine’s Day was this week and appropriately, the prompt this week is ‘Love’. And what can symbolize more love than a double wedding?! Today I am going to tell you about one double wedding that is part of my family history.
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. To learn more about 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, hosted by Amy Johnson Crow, visit her website here.
The prompt this week is ‘Surprise’. I’m sure every genealogist has had her share of surprises along the way. I certainly have! This week I am going to tell you about one of those surprises.
Harry Holton Kolk was my grandfather’s older brother, the son of Henry J Kolk and Emma Weiss. He was born in 1895 and died in 1949, having never married. I’d seen a couple of pictures of Uncle Harry when he was a child, but I knew very little about him, except that he was my father’s uncle and that he’d never married.
I continued my family history research, I was able to learn a bit more.
"Mrs. Smith was married here Dec. 24, 1931. In a previous marriage she had been the wife of Harry H. Kolk and will be remembered by many friends here by that name."
Things get a little confusing from there. My asumption was that I would find a marriage reference for Liilian Twyman and Harry Kolk, find a divorce reference, and then find a marriage reference for Lillian Kolk and Mr. Smith. Instead, I found an article in the 29 Dec 1931 Edwardsville (IL) Intelligencer listing marriage licenses issued. A license was issued to Harry H. Kolk of Alton and Lillian E. Smith of Chicago.
A notice of a divorce for Lillian E. Smith from Fred K. Smith appeard in the 25 Oct 1924 Alton (IL) Evening Telegraph.
Lillian was married to Mr. Smith BEFORE she married Harry Kolk! So I am truly confused. Did Lillian divorce Harry and then remarry; to another Mr. Smith? Or is the newspaper mistaken. She died less than five years after she married Harry.
I’ve searched before for a death record for Lillian Smith, and for Lillian Kolk, and came up empty. However, I did some creative searching this week. Let me tell you about it.
So why did we all think that Harry never married? I don’t really know. His marriage was short-lived, less than five years, whether it ended by divorce or by the death of Lillian. They had no children together (that I know of!!!) But Harry did have four nieces and nephews who would have ranged in age from 5 to 10 years old when he married, and ages 10 to 15 when Lillian died. But they were all convinced he’d never married and passed that information along. The only explanation I can think of is that perhaps, though they may not have divorced, Harry and Lillian separated very early in the marriage, and the nieces and nephews just didn’t remember her existence. I need to explore city directories and other records to see if I can learn more about this marriage. And maybe I will find another surprise! To learn more about 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, hosted by Amy Johnson Crow, visit her website here. |
Subcribe by RSSThe above RSS link appears to not work correctly. If you are having trouble adding my blog to your RSS feed, please try this link. About MeI have been researching my family history for almost 20 years. Some of the main surnames in my research include DEBEE, FRERICHS, HAHNENKAMP, HIXON, HOLTON, JANCO, KOLK, PETRINI, POYNTER, STRIEBEL and WEISS. Contact me if you think you are related! Archives
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