Abraham Richter was issued a marriage license to marry Elitha Homes on September 15th, 1865. This took place in St Joseph County, South Bend, Indiana….
It looks like they actually married the 16th of September…. I had never realized how many dates were involved with a marriage license. This Abraham Richter is different from Abraham Lincoln Richter born in 1864.
Abraham Richter was born of Rebecca Hannah Gallontine and Jacob Richter in 1830.
Abraham Richter was born on 30 Dec 1830 in Connellsville, Fayette Co.
Pennsylvania. He died on 24 Jun 1916 in Union Township, Indiana. He married
Sarah McWilliams on 26 Mar 1854 in Liberty Twp. Van Wert, OH. She was born
about 1833 in Connellsville, Fayette Co. Pennsylvania3. He married Elitha Holmes
on 11 Sep 1865 in Lakeville, St. Joseph Co. Indiana. She was born on 19 Aug
1844 in Bristol,Near Lakeville, St. Joseph County, Indiana. She died on 23
May 1911 in Bristol, Indiana.
Abraham Richter was counted in the census in 1850 in Tuscarawus County, Ohio.
He was counted in the census in 1870 in Union Twp, Indiana. He was counted in
the census in 1880 in Union Twp, Indiana. He was counted in the census in 1910 in
Union Twp, Indiana. He was buried on 27 Jun 1916 in St. Joseph County, Indiana.
Abraham Richter was the brother to Jacob Richter who was my direct ancestor.
Jacob Richter was born on 04 Apr 1827 in Connellsville, Fayette Co. Pennsylvania.
He died on 05 Sep 1899 in Near Oakwood, Vermilion County, Illinois. He married
Mary Peck on 29 Jul 1860 in Pennsylvania, daughter of Lorenzo Dow Peck and
Mary Manilla Hammet. She was born on 25 Jan 1841 in Lynn, Missouri1. She died
on 28 Aug 1911 in Vermillion Co. Illinois at 2:40 on Monday afternoon1. He married
Phebe Putnam on 31 Mar 1850 in van wert co, OH, daughter of Andrew
Putman and Sarah Grittner. She was born in 1833 in Tuscarawas co, Ohio. She
died in Jul 1860.
(If I remember this corectly)
As I go through papers I just found the obituary from the paper for Christina Anderson. It’s amazing the things you can find in an older obituary. This one reads:
Christina Anderson Dies Near Oakwood
Summons Came for Aged Woman at her home Thursday Night.
Hold Funeral Saturday
Deceased lived on place where she died for more than half century
Mrs. Christian Anderson, one of the oldest women of Vermilion county and one of its best died at her home near Oakwood Thursday night after long illness. For more than half-century she had lived on the place where she passed away.
Mrs. Anderson was born at Dayton OH. Sept. 29, 1831, and came to this county with her parents when a child. The parents located near Oakwood where the deceased spent the rest of her life. On Feb. 2, 1854, she was united in marriage to Louis Anderson, who was one of the early-day school teachers of the county and whose death occurred March 7, 1897. the deceased is survived by eight children, four sons and four daughters. They are: James F., Louis B., Charles W., Hiram E., Mrs. Julia Cass, Mrs. Belle Thompson, Mrs. Allie Nugent, and Mrs. Nellie Fox. Four sisters survive, Mrs. Abraham Illk, Mrs. Mary Reece, Mrs. John Manning, and Mrs. Julia Beyer. She leaves also fifteen grandchildren.
Mrs. Anderson has been a member of the Methodist church since a child and was a Christian woman with all that the words can mean.
The funeral services will be held Saturday morning at 10 o’clock from the Lake Shore church, Rev. Wicks officiating. The interment will take place in the Oakwood cemetary.
In the obituary is listed Mrs. Abraham Illk, who in my records would be Katherine (Voth) Illk. Abraham and Katherine had a daughter named Frannie who fit into my tree as my great-aunt. My grandfather (Wesley Richter) was a twin. His twin brother was Lesley Frank Richter (Both born Aug. 1, 1896 in Oakwood Illinois)
Lesley Richter married Frannie Illk the daughter of Katherine Voth and Abraham Illk. So this makes Christina Anderson part of an expanded tree for our family. (But the dates don’t seem to add up for what I have down. See below. Anyone who can clear this up, let me know…)
The really interesting thing to me is that my parent bought the Abraham Illk house when I was in second grade. My brother now owns it and still lives there. I think the story was that the house was built by Illk with bricks made in the nearby woods. The house is just a short distance down the road from the house that my father grew up in, and is also on the road of the grade school my father attended.
For more information about Christina check out http://www.skyviewtech.com/jim/stuff/ford.htm It’s funny how things become intertwined…
It was this road (Old State Road) that Abraham Lincoln traveled when attending Circuit court in Danville. The Willis Hubbard family, living at the eastern edge of the school district, knew Lincoln well. They operated a roadside tavern from their pioneer homestead on the State Road and Lincoln stopped there during his circuit riding days. Historian H.A. Coffeen wrote in 1870, “.. it was their privilege to have Abraham Lincoln as their guest, in his regular trips to Danville…. Many of Lincoln’s best jokes are well remembered by this elderly couple.” Catherine Voth (Christina’s sister) (1833-1916) was employed by the Hubbards when she was a young girl and recalled seeing the gaunt Lincoln during his circuit riding days. Catherine Voth married Abraham Illk in 1857. Her family had also emigrated from Germany but Catherine was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The family changed their name from Voth to Ford after reaching the United States. The Illks’s homesteaded a quarter mile south of the Lake Shore School House. Abraham Lincoln was well aware of the number of Germans living in the area. While campaigning in Vermilion County in September 1858, he wrote a letter from Danville to Norman Judd pointing out, “Our friends here wish a German speaker before the election, can you send one?”
Cathrine Voth Ford’s sister Mary, married William Calvin Eldridge On November 9, 1859. The newlyweds took up residence in the timber just north of the Illk homestead. On October 14, 1860, they named their first born son William Lincoln Eldridge in honor of the circuit riding attorney so well known in the community. In less than a month the attorney would be elected president.
Reading this I also notice William Lincoln Eldridge name as one of my ancestor’s also (great grandfather. My grandmother was Mildred Eldridge (daughter of William Lincoln Eldridge). So it looks like Christina Anderson was actually closer related than I thought. This would make her sister Mary my great-great grandmother. I’m still not sure about he dates… So I think that makes her my great-great aunt. I’ll have to check into it more…
Lesley Richter
Lesley Frank Richter was born on 01 Aug 1896 in Oakwood Illinois,
Vermilion Co.. He died on 28 Dec 1969 in Danville, Illinois Vermilion Co.. He
married Frannie Illk, daughter of Abraham Illk and Katherine Voth. She was born on
18 Apr 1906 in Vermilion Co, Illinois. She died on 18 Feb 1933 in Danville, Illinois
Vermilion Co.. He married Elizabeth Odell Starks on 13 Mar 1937 in Danville, IL,
daughter of Oscar Starks and Hannah Youngblood. She was born on 20 Mar 1914 in Georgetown Arkansas. She died on 15 Feb 1978 in Oakwood Illinois, Vermilion
Co..
Lesley Frank Richter was counted in the census on 18 Jun 1900 in oakwood Twp,
Illinois. He was counted in the census on 14 Jan 1920 in oakwood Twp, Illinois. He
was counted in the census in 1930 in Vermilion county, Oakwood Township Head
of Household.
Notes for Lesley Frank Richter:
Buried Oakwood Cemetery, Oakwood, Il
Notes for Frannie Illk:
Buried Oakwood Cemetery
My grandmother was the only one of her brothers and sisters to go on to high school. There wasn’t money for books so she had to borrow books from the school, but she made it through and graduated. Grandma went on to become a Kindergarten teacher (at the time it only required a High School degree). To be a teacher at the time you could not be married. Grandma had to keep her wedding quiet when she married my grandfather (They went over and got married in IN) so that she could keep working until the end of the school year.
Grandma once said that when she told great-grandma they were getting married, all she said was “You’re old enough”… She was only married to my Grandfather McArdle for a few years. He drowned at Ellsworth Park when my mother was just a few years old. She remarried a few years later to my Grandfather Wakeland. Grandpa Wakeland saw her at a bar where she worked and told my Uncle Ervin that he was going to marry her. Her response was “Like H*** You will” She made Grandpa Wakeland prove that he wasn’t as wild as my grandfather McArdle before she would marry him.
She and my Grandfather McArdle lived in a shack by a coal miner my grandfather McArdle worked in. My mother when she was born slept in the bottom drawer of the dresser…..
I have: (and there is conflicting info… so hopefully someone knows more.)
GIOVANNI MORETTO was born on 01 Oct 1880 in Locana, Italy. He died on 14 Oct 1918 in
Westville, Illinois. He married CATERINA MARIA NEGRI on 11 Apr 1903, daughter of Giacomo Negri and Francesca Maria Pezetti. She was born on 17 Nov 1874 in Locana Italy. She died on 01 July 1961 in Belgium Town, Illinois at 7:30 pm.
Giovanni: Giovanni Moretto was born on 01 Oct 1880 in Costallamente Italy. He was born on 01
Oct 1880 in Riveralo, Italy. He was born on 08 Oct 1880. He was employed as a Coal miner. His height was 5 ft. 6 in.. His weight was 175 lb. 0 oz.. Sex: Male. He lived in Belgiumtown, Il. Ethnicity/Relig.: Catholic; Italian. Additional Comment: Name really Gian. His cause of death was Influenza epedemic of 1918. He also went by the name of John Moretto and Came on the boat Loraine. (I’ve seen these ship records) Comment: Signed papers to apply for citizenship 7th day of Aug 1917. Comment: Arrived to the US the 5th day of March.
Notes for Giovanni Moretto: Complexion Dark, Hair Brown, Eyes Gray
Caterina Maria: Caterina Maria Negri was born on 18 Nov 1874 in Locana, Italy. She immigrated to the US Aboard the SS Prinz Adalbert on 06 Jan 1905. She was counted in the census on 18 Apr 1930 in Belguimtown Village, Vermillion Co. Illinois. Citizenship: 08 Mar 1939. Her weight was 145 lb. 0 oz.. Sex: Female. She lived in Belgiumtown, Il. She was employed as a Mother. (and my grandmother said she cleaned houses after her husband died) Comment 2: 3:00 PM. Comment 1: declaration of intention May 22,1936 at. Her height was 5 ft. 3 in.. Ethnicity/Relig.: Catholic; Italian.
Notes for Caterina Maria Negri:
Declaration of Intention
Giovanni Moretto aged 38 years occupation Coal Miner Color White Complexion- Dark height 5’6″
weight 175 hair Brown eyes gray born in Costellamente, Italy the 1st day of Oct 1880 emigrated
from Havre, France on the boat Loraine – lived in Locana Italy King was Victor Emmanuel III arrived
the 5th day of March 1904 signed the 7th day of Aug. 1917. (Grandma said 1904 – but was probably the difference between arriving and signing to apply for citizenship)
Declaration of Intention
John (Gian) Moretto aged 36 years Occupation Coal Miner
Color White Complexion Dark, height 5’6″, weight 175, hair brown, eyes gray
born in Costellamente Italy, 1st day of Oct, 1880 emigrated from Havre, France on the boat Loraine and had lived in Lacona, Italy King was Victor Emmanuel III arrived 5th day of March signed 7th day of Aug. 1917
I’m not sure why for the Decl of Intent for Great Grandpa I have two different ages and dates….
(Catherina)
Katherina Moretto Cert. of Citizenship no. 4546961, Petition no 1117, At that time age 64, sex Female, color white complexion Olive, eyes Brown hair Grey-black, height 5’3″ weight 145, mole on right cheek admitted on March 8th 1939 by Marie Burnett Deputy Clerk. Died Age 86 at 7:30 pm Saturday July 1, 1961 at Belgiumtown had been ill 6 months lived in Belgiumtown since 1917. Went from Ellis Island to Clinton and from 1905 lived in Clinton, IN briefly before moving to Belgiumtown.
On papers:
May 28, 1930
Name Maria Negri, Filed June 1936 , Port New York, Date 1/6/1905 on the Boat Prinz Adalbert
May 13, 1936 Katherine Moretto Declaration of Intention (first papers) Examiner of this Service in the office of the clerk, US District Court, Danville, on May 22, 1936 at 3:00 PM., Saw A.M. Doig Assistant District Director
Katherine Moretto May 13, 1936
Declaration of Intention (first papers) Examiner of this service in the office of the Clerk, Us district Court, Danville on May 28, 1936 at 3:00 PM and Saw A.M. Doig Assistant District Director
Same Here
They were married on 02 Mar 1900 in Locana Italy. They were married on 28 Apr 1900 in Locana,
Italy. (I have two different dates, this could have been one civil and one church)
Giovanni Moretto and Caterina Maria Negri had the following children:
2. THERESA HELEN MORETTO was born on 08 Dec 1916 in Belgium Town, Illinois. She died on 25 Jan 2006 in Danville, Illinois. She married (1) CLIFFORD DOUGLAS MCARDLE on 28 Jul 1938 in Crawfordville, IN, son of Elmer E McArdle and Hattie Jane Mahaffey. He was born
on 04 Jan 1916 in Il.. He died on 14 Jun 1943 in Danville Il at Elsworth Park in
North Fork River. She married (2) ESTLE OSCAR WAKELAND on 02 Mar 1946 in
Danville, IL. He was born on 22 Mar 1904. He died on 20 Nov 1975 in Lakeview Hospital, Danville Il..
ii. FRANCESCA NEGRI was born on 16 Mar 1901 in Locana Italy4. She died on 24 Dec 1906 in Clinton, Indiana (or Dec. 29).
Francesca Negri was born in 1876 in Locana Italy. She was born on 09 Mar 1901 in
Locana, Italy. She immigrated on 06 Jan 1905. Sex: Female. She also went by the name of Frances Moretto. Her cause of death was Typhoid.
3. iii. MARY MORETTO was born on 25 Dec 1903 in Locana Italy. She died on 27 Dec 1986 in Danville, Illinois Vermilion Co.. She married FRANK FALETTI on 11 Oct 1921 in Danville, IL. He was born on 06 Sep 1890 in Italy. He died on 12 Dec 1982 in Danville, IL.
4. iv. MARGARET MORETTO was born on 25 Dec 1903 in Locana Italy. She died on 20 Jul 1973. She married JULIUS DUBOIS on 26 Jun 1920. He was born on 18 Dec 1891. He died on 24 Apr 1962.
v. THERESA MORETTO was born on 17 Nov 1905. She died on 06 Jan 1914. Sex: Female. Her cause of death was Diptheria.
5. vi. BERNARD JAMES MORETTO was born on 17 Feb 1907. He died on 13 Feb 1990. He married MILDRED B SUTTON on 16 Apr 1931. She was born on 11 Feb 1913. She died on 16 Dec 1970.
6. vii. JAMES A MORETTO was born on 17 Nov 1909 in Illinois. He died on 12 Oct 1992 in Danville. He married HELEN KARUSHIS on 07 May 1929, daughter of Andrew Karushis and Eva Karushis. She was born on 10 Feb 1908 in Pennsylvania. She died on 01 May 1975.
7. viii. JOHN MORETTO was born on 30 Jul 19116. He died on 26 Mar 19866. He married (1) HELEN SHANNON on 23 Apr 19322. He married (2) HELEN LEMON on 23 Apr 1937. She was born on 16 Mar 1922. She died on 04 May 1984.
ix. KATHERINE PURINA MORETTO was born on 08 Oct 1912. She died on 24 Dec 2001 in Danville, Il at Nursing Home. She married (1) FREEMAN HACQUETT on 27 Jun 1931. He was born on 24 Apr 1904. He died on 10 Apr 1951. She married (2) RALPH CHILDS on 19 Feb
1955. He was born on 02 Jan 1895. He died on 28 Jan 1978.
Katherine Purina Moretto was counted in the census on 18 Apr 1930 in Belgiumtown, Vermillion Co, Illinois. She was buried on 28 Dec 2001 in Georgetown Twp, Vermilion Co, IL. Sex: Female.
(Aunt Kate always said it was a typo on the birth certificate and was to be Katherine Petrina)
8. x. LENA MORETTO was born on 16 Mar 1914. She died on 12 Dec 1987 in Carle clinic, Champaign Il. She married ERVIN CHAME MACK on 04 Nov 1939. He was born on 10 Apr 1915. He died on 07 Nov 2009.
Family stories are hard to find once your older relatives are gone. On my mother’s side, my grandmother was the best source – and she didn’t know her father since he passed away when she was little. I’ve heard rumors he was a small man compared to my great grandmother that was large. He worked in the mines and had a hard life. I’m sure that the mines contributed to his lack of ability to fight the flu in 1918. That flu killed off large amounts of middle aged people and was one of the worst epidemics in history.
Stories I’ve heard include how my great grandmother would work in the garden and stop long enough to come in, have a baby and go back out. My great grandfather had applied for citizenship and my great-grandmother would have gotten it through him if he hadn’t passed away before completing the process. Stories sound like she was always afraid they would send her back to Italy and not let her come back to the US if she tried to visit family back home.
The story I had heard was that they started in Clinton IN and then moved to Westville, IL. My great-grandmother came over to the US with three girls in tow and passed through Ellis Island. After coming to the US a daughter Theresa died in Clinton IN as a child. The story is that Theresa was the name of a sister to my g-grandmother so she named my grandmother Theresa since she wanted to use the name (after the first Theresa had passed away). The grave of the first Theresa in Clinton supposedly washed away many years ago.
Can you imagine coming to a foreign country on a LONG boat trip with three girls afraid that one would get sick and cause the new country to deny you entry? My great grandparents left everything they new behind to come to the US with very few possessions to start over with.
Stories of Italy that my grandmother remembered included that they lived above the barn in Italy. The heat from the animals kept the house warmer. My aunt Kate also told stories filled with superstition. One I remember involved a beggar coming to the door in Italy and a relative throwing hot coffee out that landed on the beggars face. A few days later a dog showed up at the door with a burnt face and they were sure it was the beggar. Of course these stories come to me not even second hand, but third hand in this case. My Aunt Kate was one of the youngest kids and she told me many years ago. If only I had used a tape recorder then to preserve the stories….
