Kinfolk Klippin's #12 January 1993
This issue's topics:
My great-grandparents... Biographical sketch of Jacob and
Katherine Wahl
A correction... Correction to Melvina's birth date
We have some new additions... Births (Frank Moore, Theresa
and Sophia Mullineaux, Jordan Gunn)
Unfortunately, we have also... Deaths (Paul Young, Mary
Cox, Byron Wahl)
My great-grandparents...
were Jacob and Katherine Wahl. Jacob was born 27 Jan 1864 on the farm in
Salisbury Township, Sangamon County, Illinois. His father was George Jacob Wahl,
Sr. His mother may have been Mary Shafer Wahl. He had twelve siblings: two
brothers, one sister, five half-brothers, and four half-sisters.
Jacob was often referred to as "Jacob Jr.". When he became of age, he
farmed "the Wahl 40" with his father and older brother George. Jacob
is not named in his father's will in 1890 -- presumably because he was married
and on his own. Katherine Malinda Schumacher was born 10 Oct 1867 in Sangamon
County, Illinois. Her father was Henry Charles Schumacher and her mother was
Amelia H. Roll Schumacher. Katherine's nickname from early childhood was Katey
and her family still called her Katey after she was grown and married. A
postcard dated Oct 9, 1916 from her sister Sarah reads: "Dear Sister Katey,
I will send you a card for your birthday tomorrow. Wish you many more happy
birthdays. We are all well. Was over to Mary's Sunday. Are well. Is Jake coming
up to see about his mother? Write soon."
Jacob and Katherine were married 19 Jan 1886. They had seven children. Mildred
Ellen was born 7 June 1886. Charles Henry was born 17 Mar 1889. Hallie Ephram
was born 14 Aug 1891. Alva Allen was born 1 Mar 1895. Truman Vernon was born 10
June 1899. Genevieve Elton was born 28 July 1903. Walter William was born 27 Dec
1908.
Jacob and Katherine never owned any land. In 1894, they were living on a rented
farm in Gardner Township of Sangamon County. In 1904, their daughter Mildred had
a son, Thomas. As a single mother, she was apparently unable to raise her son so
she left him with her parents to raise. In the 1910 census, Thomas was listed as
a son of Jacob and Katherine. Whether they wanted people to think that or
whether it was a mistake on the part of the census taker is unknown. At the time
of the 1910 census, the family was living in Berlin, Illinois. They moved to New
Berlin sometime before 1913. In the late part of 1913 or early part of 1914, the
family moved to a rented farm in Greene County, Illinois. This farm was on Apple
Creek about eight or nine miles east of White Hall.
Jacob died of a heart attack on 5 Aug 1918 during a family outing. His obituary
reads: "Inquest Is Held Over Body of Farmer. Carrollton, Aug. 8 -- Coroner
Thos. H. Carmody was called to hod an inquest over Jacob Wahl, a farmer residing
near White Hall, who died suddenly at the Hartwell pumping station while out
with a fishing party. He remained in the auto while the other members of the
party were fishing. When they returned they found him dead. Decedent was 52
years of age and is survived by a wife and two children." It should be
noted that the obituary was wrong about the number of children surviving him.
All six of them were still living. Katherine bought a family plot in Jones
Cemetery on August 6. The plot has twelve graves and Katherine paid $5 for it. A
copy of the certificate of purchase is included with this issue. Jones Cemetery
is located about five miles east of White Hall. After Jacob's death, Katherine
moved to White Hall where she married John Griffith. They separated after about
a year and Katherine never married again. She never took a job and depended on
her children for support until the "old age pension" came into being
in the late 30's.
Sometime around 1940 Katherine moved to Manchester, Illinois. She rented three
different houses in Manchester. Only two of them still exist. Although all three
houses had electricity, none of them had indoor plumbing. Grandma cooked on a
big wood burning stove which was also used to heat the iron for ironing, water
for doing the dishes, water for washing the clothes, and water for Saturday
night baths. Even after she moved to town, she never lost her farm habit of
getting up before sunrise. She was a firm believer in "early to bed, early
to rise...". She was always a hard worker and that probably kept her
healthy through the years. But the summer of 1954 was very hot in Manchester. It
was over 100 degrees on many days. Grandma never slowed down though. She kept
doing her chores right up to the afternoon of 19 July 1954 when she collapsed in
the back yard and died. She is buried in Jones Cemetery along with Jacob and her
children, Mildred, Charles, and Walter.
A correction...
to Kinfolk Klippin's #11; it stated that Melvina Cox was born in 1854.
Typo! Make that 1845.
We have some new additions...
to the family tree since the last KK was published. Here are the ones I
know about. If you know of others, please let me know. Pretty please?!
Frank Matthew (The Moose) Moore Jr. was born to Frank and Monica (George Jacob
Wahl, Jacob, Mildred, Thomas, Harry) on 3 Mar 1992 in Rockford, Illinois.
Twins, Theresa Marie and Sophia Anna Mullineaux, were born to James and Mary Ann
(George Jacob Wahl, Jacob, Truman, Morris) on 29 July 1992 in Creve Coeur,
Missouri.
Jordan Makenzie Gunn was born to Randy and Carolyn (George Jacob Wahl, Jacob,
Mildred, Thomas, Thomas) on 30 Nov 1992 in Peoria, Illinois.
Unfortunately, we have also...
lost some family members.
Paul L. Young, 63, of Jacksonville died June 18, 1992, at Memorial Medical
Center in Springfield. He was born Aug. 18, 1928, in Alexander, the son of
William F. Sr. and Martha Anna Calhoun Young. He married Mildred Wahl on Jan.
29, 1950, in Roodhouse. He is buried in Memorial Lawn Cemetery.
Mary J. Cox, 87, of Greenfield died early Wednesday, June 24, 1992 at Passavant
Area Hospital. She was born July 26, 1904 in Booneville, Mo., The daughter of
John and Anna Mae Newell Baze. She married Wilbur J. Cox on Jan. 24, 1923 in
Jacksonville. She is buried in Pine Tree Cemetery in Patterson, Ill.
Byron J. Wahl, 82, of Springfield died Oct. 8, 1992 at his residence. He was
born June 2, 1910, in Springfield, the son of George and Margaret Lacy Wahl. He
is buried in Salisbury Cemetery. Reed A. Eynon, 81, of Springfield died at Oct.
15, 1992 at his residence. Hew was born May 29, 1911, in Chicago, the son of
Charles and Sylvia DeFrates Eynon. He married Evelyn Cox in 1937 in Springfield.
He is buried in Roselawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Springfield, Ill.
Copyright © 1996 Harry Wahl. All rights reserved