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.

Research Notes - Harold Erkman

While going through the General Stuff Notebook #2 awhile back I came across an AWON newsletter.  That's American World War II Orphan's Network.  I was a member for awhile b/c mom is a World War II orphan.  The newsletter suggested requesting an IDPF [individual deceased personnel file] because many World War II service records were destroyed in a fire at the St. Louis archives in the 1970s. Which is what happened to Harold Erkman's service record. So I wrote to the National Archives and got a letter back that the file existed and for photocopy fee they would send it to me and they did and it arrived today!  [Nov. 13th]  And being a government file, it is in reverse chronological order. 

Document 1: Receipt of Remains - Day Letter  

J.F. Combs Funeral Service, Wayne City, Illinois

Remains of the Late PFC. Harold E. Erkman being shipped to you accompanied by military escort. On train number 1-123 C&EI RR [Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad] leaving Chicago 10:00 pm CST Friday 20 August 1948 and due to arrive Wayne City, Ill., 11:24 am CST Sat. 21 August 1948.  Request that you immediately inform the next of  kin and make arrangements to accept remains at station upon arrival. Refer to control number 8244.  

Carroll J. Grinnell, Lt. Col. QMC

Harold Erkman

This article by Penny Shreve appeared in the Wayne County Press a couple years ago in the Memorial Day section.

Harold Erkman was 27 when he died during World War II, leaving behind a little girl.

His daughter is Trixie Lathrop of Wayne City.  She never knew either of her parents.  Her dad was reported missing in February of 1944 when she was three; her mother, the former Iva Colclasure, died three months after Trixie was born, of complications related to childbirth.

Harold was in the service twice, the first time attaining the rank of Sergeant.  But as the story is told, he was reduced to a Private after he reportedly got in a fight with a superior officer.

"He was a rebel," Trixie says.  "That was the story I was told."

Harold got out of the service, worked at Caterpillar in Peoria, and married Iva in April of 1939.  Trixie came along in 1940, and Iva died shortly thereafter.  Then when Trixie was a toddler, World War II erupted.  Harold knew he would be called back into the service, so he got things in order and reported to duty.

Harold permitted his aunt to adopt Trixie; she was adopted and raised by Anna and Lonnie Wheeler. [Okay here's the real deal:  Trixie was adopted by Harold's father, her grandfather Henry.  Henry was between wives at the time and asked his sister Anna and her husband Lonnie to take Trixie.]

Although specifics about Harold's death are unclear, it is believed that he was assigned in Northern Africa, and his group worked its way through Italy.  It is believed that Harold died in the assault on Monte Casino Abbey, south of Rome.

"He was reported missing Feb. 11, 1944, but I don't know when they reported him killed in action," said Trixie.  "Luke Leach was over there and was his best friend.  He said (of Harold's death) 12 guys went out to take a machine gun nest and only one came back."

Harold was buried in a cemetery in Italy, but later the bodies of those soldiers were exhumed and brought home for burial.  Trixie was eight years old and remembers when her dad's body was returned for burial in Thomason Cemetery.  

It's hard for Trixie to imagine what her dad went through, having lost his wife, then having to give up his only child before going back into the service.

"It would just kill me to have to give up one of my kids," she said. "But I'm grateful that he had the foresight to take care of his child before he left."

Notebook - Illinois No. 4

Davis, Patricia. White County Illinois Marriages 1866-1880 no imprint, nd

• Apr. 7, 1878 David H. Allen 26, 2nd marriage, s/o George & Manervia (Hucheson) Allen & Fannie Spry 18 d/o Frank (?) E. & Sarah (Fowler Allen) Spry, Vol. A, p. 11
• Jan. 30, 1866 Susan Burkhardt & Casper Stine Box 7
• Apr. 5, 1866 Margaret Burkhart & John Erkman, box 7
• Jan. 3, 1876 Oliver V. Dennis 52 & Matilda Fitzgerald 37, vol. 6, p. 10
• Feb. 25, 1877 William Dietz 22, Affier Clark 18, Vol. 6, p. 10
• Feb. 19, 1876 Christian Dexheimer 32 & Louisa Erkman, Mrs. 39, Vol. 6, p. 10 - 2nd wife of Jacob Erkman
• Dec. 13, 1869 Daniel Dietz & Emma Tucker, Mrs. box 8
• Marc. 29, 1878 Daniel Dietz 31, 3rd marriage s/o Godfrey & (--?--) (Kinner) Dietz & Mary Jane Johnson 17 d/o George & Lucinda (Burket) Johnson, Vol. A p. 11

20th Century

1999
1998
1997
1996 - Rob Lingafelter md. Jamie Wells; Mabel (Butler) Robertson died; Audrey (Lathrop) Kercher died
1994 - Lawrence Shaw died
1992 - Paul Albert md. Dawn Pinkhurst
1991 - Michael Lathrop md. Elizabeth Kremin
1990 - Shawn Utley md. Melisa Dimeguez; Ida Mae (Downen) Butler died
1989 - George Bush becomes president; Debbie Lathrop md. Garnet Stevens

June 1st

Birthdays: 

1760 Chloe Powell daughter of Rowland & Mary Ann (Richardson) Powell

1792 Kentucky becomes a state.

1857 John Colclasure son of Warren & Sarah (Spiker) Colclasure.  He died 1930 in Clay Co. IL.

Filing - Mom's Families

Here's the list of files in the red boxes - that is for mom's families. The eight main surnames are Colclasure, Edwards, Erkman, Fitzgerald, Gurley, Probst, Speer and Wilson.   I'm still working through dad's families . . . stay tuned. Ali, Mohammad

All Branches: Colclasure Talbert

Anselment, Gregory & Samantha Hall

Armistead Family

Barr, Byron & Inez Colclasure

Barr, John & Ruby Gurley

Berry, A.D. & Leona Reagan

Berry, Evans & Daisy Speer

Blankenship, Alexander & Lucinda Colclasure

Brewer family

Brooks, Caleb & Susannah Porter & Charity (--?--)

Brooks, Richard & Delinah Coy & Elizabeth Marshall

Brooks, William

Bullard, Danny & Diane Talbert

Burton, Harvey & Dolores Colclasure

Bushrod Family

Bushrod, John, d. 1720

Bushrod, John, d. 1760

Cagle – Miscellaneous

Cagle Family

Chapman, Bernard & Mabel Davis

Chrisman, Edward & Mildred Erkman

In Memoriam February 11th

1941 America (Rinehart) Fitzgerald in Clay Co., IL age 80.  The daughter of Philip & Hannah (Voyles) Rinehart was born in Louisville, IL in 1861.  She was married to David Fitzgerald.

April 21st

Birthdays:

1858 Catherine Smith in Clay Co. IL the daughter of William & Clarinda (Benefield) Smith.  She died in 1931 in Clay Co. IL.

1860 Mary Eichorn the wife of John Gurley.  She died in 1895.

Lyman & Elston Gurley

This is a photo of Lyman and Elston Gurley sons of J.R. & Lou Emma (Speer) Gurley on Lyman's wedding day July 22, 1928.  Lyman was 21 and Elston was 33.  Lyman married Cora Baldridge at Elston's home.  Apparently Elston felt no need to dress up for the occasion. This was probably at Elston's farm north of Wayne City.

They were married by Charles L. Wood with Lyman's niece Rosalie Gurley and nephew Harold Erkman as witnesses.  Rosalie & Harold were twelve years old.  

The following article ran in the July 1928 issue of the Wayne City Journal.

Sunday July 22nd, at high noon, the marriage of Mr. Lyman Gurley, 21 and Miss Cora Baldridge, 18 was solemnized at the home of Mr. and Mrs. E.R. Gurley of this city, Eld. Chas. L. Wood officiating.

The groom has a position with Risser and Rabinowitz Produce Co. and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jas. R. Gurley of Wayne City.  The bride is the charming daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. W. Baldridge of Bluford and who formerly held a position with the International Shoe Company of Mt. Vernon.

Blue and white predominated in the beautiful decorations and bridal costumes.  Those present were the bride's parents and her brother Everet and two sisters, Misses Lela and Anna and the Groom's parents, and Mr. and Mrs. Lewis and Harold E. Erkman and Rosalie Gurley.

The Journal joins the many friends of this popular young couple in wishing them much happiness and prosperity.

The Gurley brothers had three sisters.  Edith, the oldest had died in 1920. Edna was probably living in Evansville, Indiana, she was the mother of Harold Erkman.  Ruby may have been living in Colorado in 1928.

Cora and Lyman lived with J.R. & Lou Gurley on their farm at the western edge of Wayne City. Their house is now within the city limits.  They never had any children.  Elston eventually built a house on the property as well.  

Wagon Ride

J.R. Gurley giving his grandson Harold Erkman a ride ca. 1918.  James Robert Gurley was born in Wayne County, IL Jan. 23, 1866 the son of Leonard & Susanna (Morehead) Gurley.  He married Lou Emma Speer in Glenarm, IL in 1892.  They had five children the middle of which was Edna.  She married Henry Erkman January 9, 1916 and had Harold Erkman on June 23rd. J.R. & Lou owned a farm on the western edge of Wayne City, IL.  He also owned land north of town which had belonged to his parents so I'm not sure where this photo was taken.  J.R. died at home on July 4th, 1941.  Harold had enlisted in the Army Oct. 15, 1940 in East St. Louis and shipped out June 9th 1943 for north Africa.  He was killed in action February 11, 1944 in Italy while serving in Company A of the 157th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division.  They are both buried in Thomason Cemetery in Wayne City, Illinois.

June 23rd

Birthdays:

1845 – Samantha Lathrop daughter of Henry & Rachel (Laws) Lathrop in Richland Co., IL.  She died in 1917.

1847 – Henry Morehead son of Charles & Catherine (Sheldon) Morehead

Umbilical Lines

Traditionally, genealogy tracks the male or spear line of a given family.  The female lines are called the distaff line which refers to the stick used to hold yarn while spinning. More recently, genealogists have become more interested in the distaff lines.  Some people are now beginning to research their umbilical line.  This is mine:

Suellyn Lathrop

Trixie Erkman the only child of Iva Colclasure & Harold Erkman married Bill Lathrop in 1958.  They had two children.

Iva Jewel Colclasure born May 29, 1922 in Sailor Springs, IL.  She died July 22, 1940 in Fairfield, IL. At age 16 she married Harold Erkman on April 21, 1939 in Henderson, KY.  The couple moved to Peoria, IL where their daughter Trixie was born.  Iva was extremely ill after the birth and was taken home to her parents home where she died.  She is buried in Thomason Cemetery in Wayne City, IL.

Marybelle Fitzgerald born in Louisville, IL Aug. 9, 1889 and died Apr. 19, 1934 in Fairfield, IL.  On March 1, 1907 she married Clarence Colclasure  at age 18.  She had ten children which included two sets of twins:  Laura, Vernie, James, Verlie, Lowell, Delores, Irene, Iva, Edward and Ada.  She is buried in Maple Hill Cemetery, Fairfield, IL

America Adeline Wilson born in Louisville, IL Aug. 24, 1868 and died in Fairfield, IL Feb. 25, 1943.  She married Wakeman Fitzgerald Jan. 10, 1887 at age 18.  She had eleven children:  Marybelle, Itha, Annie, Olsa, Edna, Rovilla, John Wesley, Carl, Clara and Francis. She is buried in Maple Hill Cemetery, Fairfield, IL.

Evann Brooks born 1843 in Muskingum Co. OH, d. before 1880 in Clay Co. IL, possibly as early as 1869.  Her father Richard moved the family to Bartholomew County, IN and on to Clay Co. IL after her mother's death.  Evann married William Wilson July 20, 1860 in Clay Co. IL.  They had Franklin, Mary E., Beldora and America.

Delinah Lucy Coy b. ca. 1815 in Pennsylvania and died ca. 1850 in Muskingum Co., Ohio.  She married Richard Brooks 1831 in Muskingum Co.  They had Miriam, Caleb, Susan, Evann & Lucy Delinah Brooks.  She is probably buried in McGinnis Cemetery in Muskingum Co. Ohio.

Hester ? married William Coy and had at least 3 children, Mary, Delinah and William.  She probably died in Ohio.

What's your umbilical line?

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 #26 James Gurley

James & Lou (Speer) Gurley Family ca. 1917

James Robert Gurley aka J.R.

Born: January 23, 1866, Wayne Co., IL
Died: July 4, 1941 Wayne City, IL

Buried: July 6, 1941 Thomason Cemetery, Wayne City, IL

Married: Lou Emma Speer, December 28, 1892 at his brother Louis Gurley's home in Glenarm, IL. 

Religious affliation: member of the Wayne City Christian Church

Occupation:  farmer

Research Log - 100 Years Ago

January

2 - Alison Bryan md. Magdalena Erkman in Bearden, Arkansas

8 - President Woodrow Wilson reveals his Fourteen Point plan to Congress & Mississippi is first state to ratify the 18th amendment to establish prohibition

14 - Bernice Wheeler, born & died, daughter of Lonnie & Anna (Erkman) Wheeler

20 - Juanita (Freeman) Oliver born Grand Tower, IL

27 - First Tarzan movie premiers in New York City

February

3 - Mary Ellen (Hardin) Crane Rhodes died in Iowa age 75

8 - Stars & Stripes military newspaper debuts

Humidification

Back in December  I did a humidification project with some rolled documents.  

Start with an empty box that has a lid - this is a Rubbermaid box - notice the rolled documents on the floor to the right. 

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

Grandma's Autograph Book

This autograph book belonged to Lou Emma (Speer) Gurley, the daughter of Charles & Anna Eliza (Runyon) Speer.  She was born Dec. 31, 1865 in Jeffersontown, Kentucky and died Dec. 6, 1957 in Fairfield, Illinois.  Lou married James Robert Gurley Dec. 28, 1892 at his brother Louis' home in Glenarm, Illinois. Louis Gurley was married to Lou's aunt Fannie (Runyon) Gurley. 

The dated entries in the book indicate that she received or purchased it about 1888 when she would have been 23.  It indicates that she went to visit relatives in Texas and later visited relatives in central Illinois in 1891 which is probably how she and her aunt Fannie met the Gurley family. 

The pages are all "out" of the book and I have no idea if the order they are currently in is the order they were originally in. 

You can see the faint outline of the word Album on the front cover.

In Memoriam - Trixie Lathrop

Trixie Ann (Erkman) Lathrop

Born: April 10, 1940, Peoria, Peoria Co., IL

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

Burial: none, cremation

Birth name: Edna Ann Erkman

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

Trixie Lathrop, age 83, of Wayne City, Illinois and most recently of Bowling Green, Kentucky, passed away Thursday, October 5, 2023 at Greenwood Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Bowling Green, Kentucky where she was in recovery from hip surgery. Trixie was born on April 10, 1940 in Peoria, Illinois, the only child of Harold & Iva (Colclasure) Erkman.  Her mother died in July 1940 and her father was killed in action during World War II.  She was adopted by her grandfather Henry Erkman who gave her to his sister & brother-in-law Anna & Lonnie Wheeler to raise.