Those Big Decisions That My Relatives Made

This week's #52Ancestors prompt, Big Decisions, got me thinking about 

decisions made by relatives that impacted their lives.

My maternal grandmother, Stella Edwards Butzek, made the decision as a young woman to move to Chicago to find work. This turned out to be a good decision as she met and married my grandfather, Anthony Butzek. As a young married couple with a young child, they made the decision to move to southern Illinois, where Anthony farmed and worked the coal mines. After Anthony's untimely death in a mining accident, my grandmother made the decision, yet again, to move to Chicago where she spent the rest of her life.

My paternal grandparents, George Michael Martin and Florence Halliday Martin, made the decision to move from Albia, Iowa, to West Frankfort, Illinois, as newlyweds. It's not clear what prompted this decision, but I suspect the coal mines in Iowa were close to being played out, and they saw a better financial future in southern Illinois. They raised two children and spent the rest of their lives in West Frankfort.

I had several relatives who made the big decision to immigrate to the United States. These included my grandfather, Anthony Butzek, who came over in 1909 with his family. He was just a toddler and obviously had no say in the matter, but his parents made that decision. Perhaps it was for a better life; perhaps there were legal issues in the old country, as the family stories suggest. 

My paternal Halliday great-grandparents moved from County Durham, England, to Iowa, from one coal-mining area to another. And it was a successful move. My paternal Clark great-great-grandparents moved from Lanark County, Scotland, to Iowa, stopping first in Ohio. Despite the challenges, life was reasonably good for them. 

Further back in time, I had relatives who decided to move westward. They moved from North Carolina to Tennessee and Kentucky, finally ending up in southern Illinois, although some ended up in Texas and Oregon. 

What caused all these people to pack up and make these moves? More land, better opportunities, anti-slavery sentiments, or a combination of things that made the decision easier? Did they have so little that packing up and moving wasn't a big deal? I can't answer these questions—I can only speculate. Whatever the reasons, I am grateful for these moves. Because in the end, it gave me a better life!

A Colorful Tale

Early in my research, I was surprised to learn that my paternal grandmother had been married before marrying my grandfather. It was one of those family secrets that people don't talk much about, but they assume you know.

I obtained a copy of the marriage record. Dated 25 January 1916, Florence Halliday, age 16, was married at Eldon, Wapello County, Iowa, to H.W. Edwards, aged 24. H.W., whose name I learned was Harold, was listed as a salesman.[1] Although my grandmother was listed as aged 16, she was born on 15 February 1897 and was therefore almost 19 years old.[2] It's unclear why the age was incorrect.  

What made this marriage colorful (besides being puzzled about the listed age) was reported in a newspaper article I found about the wedding.

"Married in Eldon," The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA), 

1 February 1915, p.2, col.3. From newspapers.com.

First, it was noted that Florence's new husband had given up a theatrical career, although he was employed by a company that likely made theatrical scenery. Is this what attracted her to him in the first place?

Secondly, the marriage took place on stage during the last act of the play $1 for a Kiss. That had to have been an extraordinary wedding ceremony. The play was written by Moore and Watterson. J.G. Moore was listed as a witness to their marriage, along with J.M. Baker. Were they both actors in the play? No record of a play by that name has been found, so it was likely just a local production. 

Their wedding reception was a banquet given by the "Sons of Rest". This appears to be a social group, perhaps formed around theater people. There doesn't seem to be any formal group by that name. 

Eight months later, a son was born—Richard Eugene Edwards.[3] This was another family secret. It's unclear what illness Richard had, but it was some sort of chronic disability. He spent most of his short life living with his Halliday grandparents. Richard died on 12 September 1934 in West Frankfort, Franklin County, Illinois, aged 18. He was listed as an Invalid.[4] 

The Halliday-Edwards marriage didn't last very long either. The final divorce decree was issued on 1 May 1919 in Albia, Monroe County, Iowa. Florence was awarded custody of Richard and child support of $12 a month.[5] 

Harold didn't waste any time remarrying. On 6 May 1919 in St. Louis, Missouri, he married Miss Blossom Cheek of Decatur, Illinois.[6] That marriage also didn't last very long. Harold died on 2 December 1930 in Jacksonville, Illinois.[7] 

Harold was a mysterious person. In addition to his early theater career, his name was often listed differently. He usually went by H.R. Edwards, occasionally Harold. But when he married Florence, he was listed as H.W. Edwards. He appears to have established himself as a salesman until his death. His birth date is given as 4 September 1893 on his World War I draft registration.[8] His tombstone agrees to the day and month but lists the year as 1894.[9] His obituary lists his birth date as 9 September 1891.[10] But even if you use the earliest year, he died young, before he was forty years old.

Harold was not the only family member who went on the stage. His brother Charles had toured the country in various productions. He also died before he was forty.[11]

My grandmother married George Michael Martin on 12 September 1925 in Albia, Monroe County, Iowa.[12] They lived there for a couple of years before moving to West Frankfort, Illinois, where they lived a fairly routine life.

Florence Halliday Edwards Martin died 10 July 1967 in West Frankfort, Franklin County, Illinois, of congestive heart failure.[13] She left no sign of her early, colorful life.

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The #52 Ancestors Prompt for Week 2 is A Record that Adds Color

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SOURCES:

    [1] “Iowa Marriage Records, 1880-1947,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/3998653:8823: accessed 7 June 2023); Wapello County, p. 90-93, #1454, Edwards-Holiday, January 1916; Iowa Department of Public Health.

    [2] Clerk of the District Court, Keokuk County, SIgourny Iowa. Copy received from grandmother’s files. Florence Halliday, 1897, Keokuk County.

    [3] Birth record not found. Date of birth from: “Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947,” database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQ1J-SRQ: accessed 8 June 2023), Richard Eugene Edwards, 12 September 1934, Franklin County,; Public Board of Health, Springfield, FHL microfilm 1,712,057, image #948.

    [4]“Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947,” database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQ1J-SRQ: accessed 8 June 2023), Richard Eugene Edwards, 12 September 1934, Franklin County,; Public Board of Health, Springfield, FHL microfilm 1,712,057, image #948.

    [5] “Court Records, v. 31, 29 April 1918-29 Oct 1920,” digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4R-GXYD : accessed 8 June 2023); District Court, Monroe County, Iowa, Record No. 31, p. 235, April 1919 term, 1 May 1919, #9819, Divorce Decree Florence Edwards, Plaintiff vs. H.R. Edwards, Defendant.

    [6] “Cheek-Edwards,” Herald and Review (Decatur, IL), 9 May 1919, p.9, col. 4-5; digital image, newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 9 June 2023).

    [7] “Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947,” database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/423029:2542: 9 June 2023); Jacksonville, 2 December 1930, Harold R. Edwards.

    [8] “World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/30810145:6482: accessed 9 June 2023), St. Joseph City, Missouri, Draft Card E, S, Harold Edwards.

    [9] Find a Grave, memorial #26082249, photo by kpet. Graceland Cemetery (Decatur, Macon County, Illinois), H. Robert Edwards Sept 4 1894-Dec 2, 1930.

    [10] “Decatur Resident Dies in Jacksonville,” Hearld and Review (Decatur IL), 3 December 1930, p.3, col. 6; digital image, newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 9 June 2023).

    [11] “Charles Edwards, Actor, Is Dead at Fort Dodge: Wife and Family Here,” The Gazette (Cedar Rapids), 18 June 1918, p.3, col. 4; digital image, newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 8 June 2023).

    [12] “Iowa, Marriage Records, 1880-1947,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/3193437:8823: accessed 9 June 2023); Monroe County, #94, 68, 012948, September 1926, Martin-Edwards; citing Iowa State Board of Health.

    [13] Death certificate, Florence Halliday, Franklin County, Illinois. Copy in author's possession.

Family Heirlooms

I'm always jealous of folks who have inherited a lot of family heirlooms. I have very few, so I treasure the ones that I have, even though they are not very old.

I inherited my paternal grandmother's hutch.[1] It is likely about 75 years old and sat in my grandparents' kitchen in southern Illinois. At one time, there was a matching table and chairs, but these are long gone. The only thing I remember that sat on the hutch was a radio. I can still picture my grandmother listening to that radio as she prepared meals. She always listened to the lists of people who were hospitalized or who had passed away. When she heard mention of someone she knew, she'd yell into the living room to my grandfather to tell him. That was the social media of the time. Today, the hutch sits in my living room, filled with genealogy books on the top shelves and serving dishes in the bottom. 

A second treasured heirloom is a pocket watch. This belonged to my dad, but I believe it was handed down to him from his English grandfather.[2] He was a little vague. For some reason, I always admired this watch. As a child, I'd take it out of the drawer and look at it. It was the one thing I wanted. I mentioned that to my parents during one visit. There was a bit of pushback as my dad thought it should go to my brother. But my mom made sure to give it to me before I left.

I have one other heirloom. I have no idea how old it is or where it came from. It's a small, opal-like ring that had belonged to my maternal grandmother.[3] I never saw her wear it -- she wasn't one to wear jewelry. I didn't even know she had it, but I got a bunch of her jewelry after her death, and the ring was among the other things. The stone appears to be slightly cracked. But I've worn it to every job interview and consider it my lucky ring. 

My family were poor farmers and coal miners. They had very little. But the few items I have are wonderful reminders of the people they came from. And without knowing their actual stories, I can imagine more colorful stories!!

Genealogical Information

[1] Florence Halliday, born 15 February 1897, What Cheer, Keokuk, Iowa. Married 1) 25 January 1916, Eldon, Wapello, Iowa, to Harold R. Edwards. Married 2) 12 September 1925, Albia, Monroe, Iowa, to George Michael Martin. Died 10 July 1967, West Frankfort, Franklin, Illinois

[2] Robert Halliday, born 21 April 1867, Carrville, Durham, England. Married 25 December 1893, Appanoose County, Iowa, to Margaret Lafferty Clark. Died 3 August 1933, Albia, Monroe, Iowa.

[3] Stella Mae Edward, born 23 July 1912, Corinth, Williamson, Illinois. Married 9 May 1931, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, to Anton Martinek/Butzek. Died 1 January 1989, Blue Island, Cook, Illinois. 

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This week's #52 Ancestors prompt was Family Heirloom.

 

The Family Business

This week's prompt for #52Ancestors is Family Business. This is an interesting topic for some people. However, it is somewhat boring for my family, as they were mostly either farmers or coal miners. 

Here's my paternal line:

• Father: George Robert Martin. He was the first generation to leave the mines and worked in a factory for his entire life.
• Grandfather: George Michael Martin (1900-1973). COAL MINER. He was crippled in a mine accident and I don't remember him ever working as I grew up. 
• Great-grandfather: Michael Philip Martin (1876-1923) COAL MINER. Killed in a mining accident.
• Great-grandfather: Robert Halliday (1867-1933), COAL MINER. He was in the mines in County Durham, England at an early age and was involved in union activities in Iowa. 
• Great-great-grandfather: Frank Martin (1824-1905). COAL MINER and plasterer.
• Great-great-grandfather: Wenzil Kausilik (1854-1933), COAL MINER. 
• Great-great-grandfather: John Halliday (1838-after 1910). COAL MINER.
• Great-great-grandfather: Alexander Clark (1834-1912), COAL MINER.
• 3rd great-grandfather: John Halliday (1816-1843) COAL MINER. Died in Coal mining accident. "Fell out of the loop while about to descend the staple."
• 3rd great-grandfather: John Hutchinson (1829-1874) COAL MINER. Found dead at bottom of shaft. Accused of throwing himself down the shaft. 
• 4th great-grandfather: John Halliday (1781-1854) COAL MINER but died of "natural decay."

Here's my maternal line:

• Grandfather: Anthony Martinek/Butzek (1907-1943) COAL MINER. Killed in mining accident.
• Great-grandfather: Anton Martinek (1875-?) COAL MINER.
• Great-grandfather: George Elmus Edwards (1880-1923) FARMER.
• Great-Great-grandfather: Hugh Richard Edwards (1856-1928) FARMER.
• Great-great-grandfather: Josiah Pogue (1848-1900) FARMER.
• 3rd Great-grandfather: Hugh H. Edwards (1821-1907) FARMER.
• 3rd Great-grandfather: John Rains (1832-1917). FARMER.
• 3rd Great-grandfather: Benagie McClerran (1831-1899) FARMER.
• 4th Great-grandfather: Hugh H. Edwards (1795-1834) FARMER. 
• 4th Great-grandfather: John Rains (1800-1854) FARMER.
• 4th Great-grandfather: Moses Armes (1787-1862) FARMER. 
• 4th Great-grandfather: Richard Hilton (1776-1865). FARMER.

Writing out the above ancestors and their occupations brought home the fact that the coal miners were mainly on my Paternal side and that ALL the coal miners were immigrants from Eastern Europe, England, and Scotland. The farmers on my mother's side were all from families that have been in the United States since the 1700s (or before). 

Family Secrets? Or Stories Never Told?

We all have secrets in our family. But it's often the story that wasn't told and not some deep, dark secret. Judy Russell has a great talk about how knowledge can be lost in just a couple of generations. Regardless of how incredible it is, the story doesn't get passed on. Or it becomes like the game of telephone. It starts as the true story and ends up garbled and something totally different than the original.

My family is no different. The story of the family members who fought in the various wars was never passed down. The stories of their immigration to this country weren't discussed. None of these things were kept secret -- they just weren't shared. 

But we did have a couple of family secrets. 

A good example was learning that my great-grandfather, Albert Butzek, was a step-great-grandfather. No one talked about the fact that my great-grandmother had been married and divorced previously. Her first husband was the father of my grandfather and some of my aunts and uncles. This was unimportant to them since they considered Albert to be their father. As a genealogist, It was crucial to me to ensure I was tracking the right family. It wasn't that it was a deep dark secret. It just wasn't talked about, and there was an assumption that everyone knew about it. Well, I sure didn't.

After researching for a couple of years, I learned that my grandmother, Florence Halliday, had been married before she married my grandfather and had a child with this first husband. Imagine my surprise in learning that my dad had a half-brother that was never talked about. He had some challenges. It's unclear if they were physical or mental, but he died young, making it easier to keep him a secret. 

Divorce was definitely a taboo. So it just wasn't talked about. And things that aren't talked about, get forgotten. They become family secrets, hidden for generations, waiting to be uncovered by genealogists!!! 

This week's #52Ancestors Prompt is Family Secrets!

Mike Martin

George "Mike" Michael Martin was my grandfather. At some time after 1940 he was injured while working in the coal mines so my memories of him are colored by his crippled leg and the constant pain he was in. Although he could be gruff and short-tempered, as a grandpa he was always loving and kind. My main memories are of him sitting in his recliner by the large picture window, watching what was going on in the neighborhood and watching tv.

Parents: Michael "Mike" Philip Martin^1,2 and Mary Theresa Kausalick². He was their 2nd child but 1st son.

Birth Date: Probably 20 September 1900². Also listed as 28 September 1900¹² and May 1900¹. No record has been found for birth except for the FamilySearch index record. The SSDI ¹⁴ lists 20 September 1900 as his birthdate. Apparently one must show a birth certificate or some proof to verify birth date when applying for a social security number.

Birth Place: Hocking, Monroe County, Iowa.^1,2All sources appear to agree that Hocking is the correct birth place.

Baptism: Mike was baptized on 6 October 1900 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Albia, Monroe, Iowa². His parents were listed as Mike Martin ad Mary Kausilick and his sponsors were George Sherba (Sherbo) and Anna Brobouski. It is unknown what the relationship is with the sponsors. Is it possible that Mike is named after George?

Marriage 12 September 1925 at Albia, Monroe, Iowa. Married Florence Edwards⁸, nee Halliday. Florence had been previously married to Harold Edwards and was divorced from him. She had a son, Richard Eugene Edwards, who was living with Florence's mother.

Death 1 January 1973, West Frankfort, Franklin, Illinois in the Union Hospital in West Frankfort. George died 4 days after his first great-grandson was born.

Children

1. June Lorraine Martin, B. 31 January 1926, Albia, Monroe, Iowa. ¹³ Died January 1978 West Frankfort, Franklin, Illinois. Never married.
2. George Robert Martin, Still Living.

Residences

1. 1905 - Hocking, Monroe, Iowa³. No age listed. Living with grandparents Frank and Barbra, parents Mike and Mary and siblings Tressie and Mary Martin.
2. 1910 - Hocking, Monroe, Iowa⁴. Aged 9. Living with parents Mike and Mary, siblings Theresa, Mary B. Frank and Carl. Living next door to grandparents Wenzel and Theresa Causlic.
3. 1915 - Hocking, Monroe, Iowa ⁵. Aged 14.
4. 1917 - Missouri - brother Eugene was born in Missouri in 1917.
5. 1920 - DeKalb, DeKalb County, Iowa ⁶ Living with parents Mike and Mary, siblings Bertha, Francis, Carl, James, Barbara, Vincent, Eugene and Dorothy. Also with his brother-in-law Emil Pesut and Emil's daughter Theresa. (Husband and daughter of sister Theresa who died in childbirth.)
6. 1925 -Albia, Monroe, Iowa⁷. Living with mother Mary, siblings Frank E., Carl W, James E., Barbara L., Vincent, Eugene, and Dorothy. Father has died. Also married in Albia in 1925.
7. 1927 - West Frankfort, Franklin, Illinois ⁹
8. 1930 - West Frankfort, Franklin, Illinois ¹⁰ Living with wife Florence, daughter June and brother James. Son George Robert who was born 1929 is missing.
9. 1940 - West Frankfort, Franklin, Illinois ¹¹ Living with wife Florence, daughter June and son George.
10. 1973 - West Frankfort, Franklin, Illinois ¹²

Occupations:

• 1915 - Clerk (not at work)
• 1920 - Miner Coal Mine
• 1927 - Received Certificate of Competency of Coal Miner
• 1930 - Coal Loader - Mine
• 1940 - Miner - Coal Mine
• Worked Old Ben No 15, Pershing, Illinois
• Member UMWA Local 8317

Sources
¹"Iowa, County Births, 1880-1935," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XVH9-R8X :accessed 09 July 2013), Michael Martin, 1900.
² St. Mary's Catholic Church (Albia, Monroe, Iowa), Baptismal Certificates (privately held by Cathy Naborowski, 1960), George Michael Martin baptismal Certificate (1900), issued 1960.
³ Iowa State Census Collection, 1836-1925, Monroe County, Iowa, Troy Township, p. 1, number 8, Mike Martin; digital image, Ancestry.com (http:///www.Ancestry.com: accessed 8 July 2013).
⁴ 1910 U.S. census, Monroe County, Iowa, population schedule, Troy Township, p. 5951, dwelling 144, family 144, George Martin; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com; accessed 8 July 2013); citing NARA microfilm publication T624, Roll 414.
⁵Iowa State Census Collection, 1836-1925, Monroe County, Iowa. Troy Township, Card No. A992, Mike Martin: digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 July 2013); microfilm of Iowa State Censuses.
⁶ 1920 U.S. census, Dekalb County, Illinois, population schedule, Dekalb City, p. 2B, dwelling 31, family 42, George Martin; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 8 July 2013); Microfilm T265, roll 303.
⁷ Ancestry.com, Iowa State Census Collection, 1836-1925 (Provo, UT, USA, The Generations Network, Inc., 2007), www.ancestry.com, Line 8 Roll: IA1925_1854.
⁸Certificate of Marriage for George M. Martin & Florence Edwards, This certifies that on the 12 day of September 1925 at Albia in Monroe County, Iowa, according to law I joined in Marriage George M. Martin and Florence Edwards, 12 day of September 1925. E.M. Gillaspie, Justice of the Peace. Witnesses: Mary Halliday and Robert Smillie.
⁹ Certificate of Competency of Coal Miner, State Miners' Examining Board, West Frankfort, Franklin, Illinois, Certificate No. 88203. (privately held by Cathy Naborowski), Mike G. Martin, 1927.
¹⁰ Ancestry.com, 1930 United States Federal Census (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626,), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, Year: 1930; Census Place: Frankfort, Franklin, Illinois; Roll: ; Page: ; Enumeration District: ; Image: .. Birth date: abt 1901 Birth place: Iowa Residence date: 1930 Residence place: Frankfort, Franklin, Illinois.
¹¹Ancestry.com, 1940 United States Federal Census (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, Year: 1940; Census Place: West Frankfort, Franklin, Illinois; Roll: T627_803; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 28-22.. Birth date: abt 1901 Birth place: Iowa Residence date: 1 Apr 1940 Residence place: West Frankfort, Franklin, Illinois, United States.
¹² Various unsourced obituaries. (privately held by Cathy Naborowski). George M. Martin, 1973.
¹³ Monroe County, Iowa, birth certificate, Book 5, Page 126 (1926), Female Martin; Monroe County District Court, Albia
¹⁴Ancestry.com, Social Security Death Index (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011.Original data - Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration.Original data: Social Security Administration. Social Security D), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, Number: 343-07-7625; Issue State: Illinois; Issue Date: Before 1951.. Birth date: 20 Sep 1900 Birth place: Death date: Jan 1973 Death place: West Frankfort, Franklin, Illinois, United States of America.