Saturday, May 31, 2014

52 Ancestors Challenge: Week #21 - Ernest Ralph McNeal

Ernest is my 2nd great grandfather


Ernest Ralph McNeal was born on July 22, 1896 in Byron, Illinois to Charles Daniel McNeal (1858-1937) and Mary Lousia Alfred (1858-1941).  Ernest was the 12th of 13 children: 
According to the 1900 census, Ernest and his family were living in Rockvale Township but by the 1910 census they were back living in Byron.  About 1915, Ernest married Oral Marie Hodges (1896-1980) and they would have three children:
Ernest was still living in Byron according to the 1920 census but the 1930's census has him living in Rockford, Illinois.  Ernest and Oral would divorce about 1938 and would both go on to marry other people.  Ernest married Alice Harriet McDaniel (1890-1976).  The only sign I have found of Ernest in the 1940's census has him and Alice living in Riverside, California which also notes they lived there in 1935.  If they did live out in California they were back in the Rockford area by 1942 when Ernest filled out his WWII draft card.  Ernest died in May of 1968 at the age of 71.


Friday, May 23, 2014

52 Ancestors Challenge: Week #20 - Mary Jane O'Rourke



Short and sweet this week as I don't know much about my 2nd great grandmother.

Mary Jane O'Rourke was born about 1870 in Wisconsin.  I do not know who her parents were so she is a dead end for me.  Mary Jane married John Nelen (1857-?) and they had at least two children:

  • George (1901-1985)
  • Alice Mabel (my great grandmother; 1905-1988).  
The 1910, 1920 and 1930 census have her living in Spring Valley, Wisconsin.  I do not have an exact year of death but I am guessing Mary Jane passed during the 1930's as I have found no record of her in the 1940's census.


Ancestry

Saturday, May 17, 2014

52 Ancestors Challenge: Week #19 - A. Dell Carrico

A.D. was my grandfather


A.D. was born on December 23, 1937 in Wild Cherry, Arkansas to Austin Rochester Carrico (1908-1979) and Tressie Jane Sanders (1906-1940).  A.D. has three full siblings: three are Austin and Tressie's children: 
  • Brother (still living)
  • Joda Mace (1936-2011) 
  • Sister (still living)
A.D.'s mother Tressie died in 1940 shortly after his sister was born.

A.D. has three half siblings: 
  • Chester Lee (1927-1993) 
  • and two other brothers who are still living

According to the 1940's census, A.D. was still in living in Wild Cherry, Arkansas.  A.D. would eventually make his way to the northern Illinois area.  On March 1, 1958 he married Garnet Jane McNeal (1937-2013) and they would have six children, all of whom are still living:
  • Son
  • Daughter
  • Daughter - my mother
  • Son
  • Daughter
  • Son

 A.D. and Jane divorced around 1980 and A.D. would remarry Darlene Mae Cunningham (1936-2010).  A.D. was an race car driver.  A.D. died on June 18, 2004 at age 66 of lung cancer and is buried at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
A.D. in 1979


Saturday, May 10, 2014

52 Ancestors Challenge: Week #18 - Clara Wilhelmina Quist

Clara is my 2nd great grandmother.

Clara in 1911, the only photo I have of her currently.

Clara Wilhelmina Quist was born on September 24, 1873 in Effsborgs-Lan, Sweden to Johan August Quist (1839-1901) and Sofia Petersdotter (1838-1891).  Clara was the third of six children:
  • John Martin (1863-1937)
  • Solomon Anskarius (1870-1882)
  • Anna Teresia (1878-1945)
  • Frank (1883-?)
  • Selma (unknown birth/death dates).  
According to the 1900 census, Clara arrived in the states in 1882 at the age of 9.    Clara married Herman Fredrec Nachtigall on October 7, 1896 in Sycamore, Illinois.  Clara and Herman had six children:
Clara and her family continued living in Sycamore according to the 1900, 1910 and 1920 census.  Clara died at age 52 on March 17, 1926.  Clara is buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Sycamore, Illinois.

I had previously had the spelling of her first name as Klara and her married last name as Nachitgall but her headstone spells them as Clara Nachtigall.  


Clara and her children in 1911.






Saturday, May 3, 2014

52 Ancestors Challenge: Week #17 - Garnet Adele Firman

Garnet is my great grandmother.


Garnet Adele Firman was born on February 15, 1913 in Detroit, Michigan to George Deo Firman and Adeline Viola Norman.  Garnet had four siblings:

  • Ronald G. (1915-1980)
  • Charles D.  (1919-1994)
  • Betty Jane (1926-1992)
  • Nina Firman (1928-1994).  
According to the 1910, 1920 and 1930 census Garnet lived in Michigan specifically Detroit and Royal Oak.  By 1934, Garnet would of moved to Illinois where she would marry Kenneth Ralph McNeal on November 22, 1934(35).   Garnet and Kenneth would have seven children:

  • Janet Arlene (1936-2005), 
  • Garnet Jane (my grandmother; 1937-2013)
  • Karen Maureen (1943-1943)
  • Linda Kay (1945-1992)
  • Kenneth Richard (1947-1947) 
  • another son and daughter who are still living.  
Garnet died on October 10, 1997 at the age of 84.  Garnet is buried at Willwood Burial Park in Rockford, Illinois.
Garnet with her father, George and sisters, Nina and Betty.

Kenneth and Garnet