Ahnentafel #15 Marybelle Fitzgerald

Marybelle Fitzgerald

Born: August 9, 1889, Louisville, IL
Died: April 19, 1934, Fairfield, IL
Buried: April 21, 1934 Maple Hill Cemetery, Fairfield, IL

Married: Clarence Colclasure, March 1, 1907 in Illinois

Census: 
1900 Larkinsburg Twp., Clay Co., IL with her parents Wakeman & America (Wilson) Fitzgerald, she was 10 years old.

1910 Marybelle is listed twice

• Hoosier Twp., Clay Co., IL with her parents 
• Pixley Twp., Clay Co., IL with Clarence and their two children, 20 years old

1920 Hoosier Twp., Clay Co., IL with her husband and six children

Ahnentafel #14 Clarence Colclasure

Clarence Colclasure

Born: April 30, 1886, Louisville, IL
Died: May 13, 1952, Fairfield, IL

Buried:  May 15, 1952, Maple Hill Cemetery, Fairfield, IL

Married:  1) Marybelle Fitzgerald, March 1, 1907, Illinois; 2) Leona (Hunter) Stanley October 23, 1948

Occupation: farmer, engineer in an underwear factory, laborer in finance company, city policeman in Fairfield, IL from 1945-1952

Census:
1900  Oskaloosa Twp., Clay Co., IL living with his parents working on the farm, age 14

1910 Pixley Twp., Clay Co., IL living with Marybelle and their two children.  Clarence is renting a farm and he is listed as 29.

Ahnentafel #13 Edna Gurley

Edna Mae Gurley

Born: November 1, 1897, Virden, IL
Died: March 15, 1982, Evansville, IN

Buried:  March 17, 1982, Thomason Cemetery, Wayne City, IL

Married:  1) Henry Erkman, January 9, 1916 Wayne City, IL, divorced 1923; 2) William Davis ca. 1957 maybe, still looking for marriage record

Occupation:  worked at the Delco-Remy plant in Anderson, IN,cashier Wells Cloak & Suit Co., saleswoman Bon Marche, saleswoman Schultz's Cloak House, saleswoman DeJong's

Ahnentafel #12 Henry Erkman

Henry Erkman at left with friends

Henry Erkman

Born: October 4, 1890 White Co., IL
Died: March 10, 1974, Wayne City, IL at home

Buried: March 12, 1974, Thomason Cemetery, Wayne City, IL

Married: 1) Edna Gurley, January 9, 1916 Wayne City, IL, divorced 1923 2) Mary Edmison; 3) Mary Edmison; 4) Essie Hilliard October 4, 1942, Cape Girardeau, MO

Military Service: September 5, 1918 - January 18, 1919, Company K, 40th Infantry, World War I

In 1942 grandpa was arrested for selling alcoholic liquor, to-wit: whiskey within the incorporated village of Wayne City on June 1, 1942.  I've been told that he used to sell drinks at the back door of the pool hall on election day.

Occupation: farm laborer, carpenter, grandpa built a lot of houses in Wayne City, pool hall owner, radio repair shop owner, worked at Delco-Remy in Anderson, Indiana, worked at Kaiser shipyards in Vancouver, WA during World War II

Ahnentafel #11 Anna Robertson

Evert, Morton, Edward, Mary Anna
Ruth w/ Mildred, Mabel & Grace

Mary Anna Robertson, she went by Anna

Born: August 21, 1882, Wayne Co., IL
Died: April 17, 1967, Fairfield, IL of skin cancer

Buried:  April 19, 1967 Thomason Cemetery, Wayne City, IL

Education: Salem School

Married:  January 1, 1907 Morton Butler in Middleton, IL at her father's home by B.D. Esmon

Census:  
1900 Four Mile Twp., Wayne Co., IL with her parents, 17 years old

1910 Wayne City, IL living with Morton Butler and their daughter, Anna age 26

Ahnentafel #10 Morton Butler

Morton & his brother Maynard

Morton Butler

Born: August 13, 1883, Jefferson Co., IL
Died: February 10, 1953, Wayne City, IL

Buried: February 13, 1953 Thomason Cemetery, Wayne City, IL

Marriage: Mary Anna Robertson January 1, 1907

Occupation: farmer, carpenter, grocer.  He built the altar in the First United Methodist Church in Wayne City, IL. 

Census:
1900 Weber Twp., Jefferson Co., IL with his parents, he was listed as a farm laborer, age 16

1910 Wayne City, IL with his wife and daughter, he was listed as a laborer doing odd jobs, age 26

Ahnentafel #9 Louisa Dove

Joel & Louisa (Dove) Lathrop

Louisa Miranda Dove

Born: July 8, 1878, Four Mile Twp., Wayne Co., IL
Died: March 15, 1946, Wayne Co., IL

Buried: March 17, 1946 Mt. Zion / Farnsworth Cemetery, Wayne Co., IL.  The tombstone is miscarved to read Lulia

Her  mother died in 1888 when Louisa was 10 years old.  Her father remarried in 1891.

Married: Joel Lathrop November 18, 1896 in Wayne Co., IL.  He was 37 and she was 18.

Census:  
1880 Four Mile Twp., Wayne Co., IL with her parents, siblings and step-siblings, 2 years old

1900 Four Mile

Ahnentafel #8 Joel Lathrop

Joel Lathrop

Born: August 1, 1859, Lawrence Co., IL
Died: January 13, 1958, of old age Fairfield, IL

Buried: Mt. Zion / Farnsworth Cemetery, Wayne Co., IL

Married: November 18, 1896 Louisa Dove in Wayne Co., IL

Occupation: farmer

In 1883 Joel was racing on horseback at night with some friends.  He was thrown off his horse and knocked out.  The newspaper reported that the doctor scolded him.

Sometime between 1881 and 1895 Joel followed his older brothers to Wayne County, Illinois.  He settled at the top of Scrub Hill and lived there the rest of his life. He visited his family in the Pasturefield community of Lawrence Co., in January of 1898.

January Holy Days

Holy Days no work was to be done, people were to attend mass.

Tuesday 13th - Sts. Hilary & Remigius
St. Hilary of Poitiers b. 315, d. 368, fought against and persecuted by the Arians, exiled to Phrygia, eventually returned to Poitiers where he served as bishop.  Patronage against rheumatism, snakes and snake bite.  Patron of backward children, children learning to walk, mothers, the sick, La Rochelle & Poitiers, France and Arugusto & Vervio, Italy.

St. Remigius of Rheims b. 437, d. 533, son of the Count of Laon, elected archbishop of Reims at age 22, worked to Christianize the Franks.  Patronage against epidemics, fever, plague, religious indifference, snakes, sore throat.  Patron of France and Rheims in particular.

Ahnentafel #7 Iva Colclasure

Iva Jewel Colclasure

Born: May 29, 1922 in Sailor Springs, IL
Died: July 22, 1940 from complications of childbirth in Fairfield, IL, age 18

Buried: Thomason Cemetery in Wayne City, IL

Married: Harold Erkman in Henderson, KY April 21, 1939

Census:
1930 Fairfield, IL with her parents age 7

1940 1019 Perry Street, Peoria, IL with Harold, age 17, the census states that they lived in the same place in 1935, but she and Harold weren't married in 1935.  She would have been twelve.

 


Child:
Trixie Erkman md. Bill Lathrop

Ahnentafel #6 Harold Erkman

Harold Edward Erkman

Born:  June 23, 1916 Wayne City, IL
Died:  February 11, 1944 killed in action near Monte Casino Abbey, Italy

Buried: 1st U.S. Military Cemetery, Nettuno, Italy, 1944; 2nd Thomason Cemetery, Wayne City, IL 1948 


Marriage:  April 21, 1939 Iva Jewell Colclasure in Henderson, KY.  

Occupation: Harold worked as a mechanic Catepillar in Peoria, IL

Military Service:  Army 1935 - 1938 Ft. Knox, KY,  reenlisted Oct. 1940 in East St. Louis, IL, see below.

Ahnentafel #5 Grace Butler

Grace as a teenager

Grace Edith Butler

Birth: May 4, 1912, Wayne City, Wayne Co., IL

Death: August 11, 1980, of lymphoma in Chesterfield, St. Louis Co., MO

Buried: Thomason Cemetery, Wayne City, Wayne Co., IL

Marriage: 1) September 5, 1931 Albert Lathrop in Mt. Vernon, Jefferson Co., IL, 2) May 15, 1974 George Lewis in McLeansboro, Hamilton Co., IL

Religious affiliation: member of the First United Methodist Church in Wayne City, IL.

Records: 

1920 - Illinois - Wayne City - East Washington Street census age 7

1930 - Illinois - Wayne City - Washington Street census age 17

Ahnentafel #4 Albert Lathrop

ca. 1927

Albert Joe Lathrop

Birth:  October 30, 1906, Wayne Co., IL
Death: July 18, 1971, Evansville, IN

Buried: Thomason Cemetery, Wayne City, Wayne Co., IL

Marriage: September 5, 1931 Grace Butler in Mt. Vernon, Jefferson Co., IL

Religious affiliation: attended First United Methodist Church, Wayne City, IL

Occupations: school teacher, farmer

Records:
1910 Illinois - Wayne Co., Four Mile Township census age 3

1920 - Illinois, Wayne Co. - Four Mile Township census age 13

Ahnentafel #3 Trixie Erkman

Anna (Erkman) Wheeler & Trixie Erkman

Trixie Erkman grew up in Mill Shoals, IL.  She was raised by her great aunt and uncle Anna & Lonnie Wheeler because her mother died when she was born and her father died when she was about four years old.  When she was 16 the family moved to Wayne City so she could be near her grandparents.  Here she met Dorothy Lathrop who introduced Trixie to her brother Bill.  The rest, as they say is history.  Bill and Trixie were married in Wayne City First United Methodist Church December 26, 1958.  They had two children: Stephen and Suellyn.  

Bernard, Suellyn, Trixie, Bill & Stephen Lathrop

Trixie attended Rend Lake College and became a teacher's aid in the Wayne City School District.  She worked a couple of years at the kindergarten in Wayne City and a few years at Orchardville Grade School.  

Mom is a talented pianist and singer.  She still plays piano for the Wayne City Methodist Church.  She also teaches piano lessons.

Born: April 10, 1940, Peoria, Peoria Co., IL, Edna Ann Erkman

Adopted: 1940 by her grandfather Henry Erkman who promptly changed her name to Trixie because he said "she was a cute little trick."

Died: October 5, 2023, Bowling Green, Warren Co., KY

Married: Bill Lathrop, December 26, 1958, First United Methodist Church, Wayne City, Wayne Co., IL

Children:

Stephen

Suellyn

Revised 10/6/2023

January 6th - Ephiphany or Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night signifies the end of Christmas and the beginning of Epiphany.  This was the Twelfth Day or last day of Christmas holiday and was marked by a feast.  It was a time for peasants to pay their annual rent to the lord and the lord might in turn pay a part of his obligation to them.  A recognition of the magi bringing gifts to Christ.

One English lord provided his tenants with

his laborer's-feast at Christmas, along with two men, namely two white loaves,

Ahnentafel #2 - Bill Lathrop

Billy Joe Lathrop, b. December 4, 1936 Wayne Co., IL, d. March 6, 2007 at home in Wayne Co., IL.  He was the middle child of seven and became a school teacher and farmer.  He attended the First United Methodist Church and was a member of the Wayne City Ruritan Club. His remains were cremated and scattered on the family farm.  There is a tombstone in Thomason Cemetery in Wayne City, IL.

Bill Lathrop, principal of Belle Rive Grade School, is retiring at the end of the current school year.

Lathrop will be completing 35 years in education in the schools of Wayne and Jefferson Counties.

Former and present students, colleagues, parents and friends are invited to an open house to honor Lathrop 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the school.

Lathrop began his teaching career in 1958 at Berry School in Wayne County.  From 1959 to 1971 he taught at Oak Grove Grade School. 

Ahnentafel #1

Ahnentafel is a German word which translates to ancestor table.  This format originated in the 1500's (see, I'm back in the past again).  It's a kind of short hand for showing an individual direct lines backward.  The subject of the ahnentafel is listed as No. 1, so that would be me.  No. 1 can be either male or female.  Even numbers are always men.  Odd numbers greater than 1 are always women.  A person's father is their number doubled (1x2=2) and the person's mother is their number doubled plus 1 (1x2+1=3)

January 1st - Feast of the Circumcision of our Lord

Medieval people navigated through time by a complex system of signposts based on natural cycles, religious rituals and cultural traditions.  The seven-day week was a part of ordinary life, since Sundays, and in many cases Saturday afternoons were occasions of leisure.  The week also determined the schedule of local markets and fasting days (Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, on which the church forbade people to eat meet).  The twelve-month Roman calendar that we use today was less important to medieval people.  Laypeople tended to organize their year around the cycle of religious holy days - days that served as occasions for secular merrymaking as well as religious observations.

The repertoire and sometimes the actual dates of holy days varied from place to place.  Major feasts were observed as holidays and required fasting on the previous day.  [Singman, Jeffrey. The Middle Ages, pp. 262-263]

Circumcision of Jesus - Fra Angelico, ca. 1450

The Circumcision of Christ was a major feast which fell on January 1st, 8 days after the birth of Christ according to Jewish law.

2015 Blog Entries

January

It's a new year, so I'm going to do a new thing on the blog . . . I'm going to be posting some information about medieval holy days, ahnentafel entries and research entries.

I have a thing for the Middle Ages.  I want to think about how our ancestors lived day to day and I think tracking the major feasts of the medieval calendar will help me with that. 

The image above is the illustration of January created ca. 1412 for Les Trés Riches Heures du Duc de Berry.  It depicts the month of giving gifts. Jean du Berry is seen on the right wearing a bright blue robe sitting at a large banquet table. 

Ahnentafel is a German word which translates to ancestor table.  This format originated in the 1500's (see, I'm back in the past again).  It's a kind of short hand for showing an individual direct lines backward.  The subject of the ahnentafel is listed as No. 1, so that would be me.  No. 1 can be either male or female.  Even numbers are always men.  Odd numbers greater than 1 are always women.  A person's father is their number doubled (1x2=2) and the person's mother is their number doubled plus 1 (1x2+1=3)

Example:

1. subject is the child of
2. father of #1
3. mother of #1
4. father of #2
5. mother of #2
6. father of #3
7. mother of #3

And lastly, research, is just that, "new" information on a line or reports on research trips.

I'm going to blog a bit less this year too, not every day.  This will give me more time to do research and some other things. 

You can always check the last two years of entries to see birthdays, anniversaries and deaths that occurred on any given day.

Have a very Happy New Year!