Post Card Courtship, SCHULER

      The SCHULER family arrived in Lockport, Illinois, about 1840 and remains there today. The I&M Canal, Illinois and Michigan Canal, plays a prominent part in their history. William John SCHULER, third generation, started walking with the mules and finished with a pilot’s license. The typical Sunday COUCH family dinner included fried chicken. How long had Will been invited to eat with the family? Elisha COUCH, Nettie’s grandfather, was a blacksmith. How many of the young lads were invited to Sunday dinner? In the early 1900s as he traveled down the canal, Will would somehow find himself in Seneca on Sunday and around meal time. The marriage of Will and Nettie took place 23 December 1908 at Seneca, LaSalle County, Illinois.

These post cards were Will’s “love Letters” to Nettie before their marriage:

Relationship to me, Selma, maternal grandparents: William John Schuler, 1871-1964, Lockport, Will County, Illinois, and Nettie Ethel Couch, 1884-1965, Seneca, LaSalle County, Illinois.

Mildred Angeline Couch Culbertson 1889-1970

 

A note with the black apron reads, “APRON Made by Aunt Mildreds Aunt – about 1865 100 yrs.” My family search identifies Carrie S Couch, Mildred’s mother’s sister. Carrie would have been about 11 years old when the black apron was machine stitched. Advertisements for family sewing machines appear in the Journal of Emery’s Agriculture dated January, 1858, published in Chicago. The advertisement touts the family use as demonstrated at the Chicago and Illinois State fairs. Chicago is just a train ride from Kankakee to Chicago. Centralia, 1858 state fair, is located on the Illinois Central Railroad line south. Which fair did they attend? Did they attend a later fair? Or did the family just read about this new family sewing machine? My family stories are missing. At this time, I have no diaries to put flesh on the bones. As talented, artistic and creative as the family was, I have no doubt that they owned one of the new family sewing machines. Their first machine would have been in the mid 1860s. Their next machine or attachment would have been in the mid 1870s when the zigzag stitch was added.

The note reads, “Aunt Mildred’s Baptism Dress.” Mildred Angeline Couch was the youngest daughter of Eugene Deloss Couch, 1851-1925, and Laura Eleanor Armstrong, 1857-1931. Mildred’s birth date is 4 July 1889. She would have been baptized in the Methodist church. In 2016, Jane Thursby and I searched in Seneca and Marseilles for church records. The staff was very helpful; the records were missing for the early years. At the time of her childhood, the church was within walking distance of their home. From personal experience of knowing the family this verse comes to mind, Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he [she] should go; when he [she] is old, he [she] will not depart from it.” As I know nothing about vintage fabrics, I am not able to identify the type of fabric or trim. The dress is machine stitched with beautiful trim on the collar, cuffs and hem. Mildred was the youngest daughter. Did her older siblings wear the same dress or did they each have a unique dress of their own?

Wrapped separately, yet included with Mildred’s possessions, the above aprons and dress, were six tea towels. Mildred may have made these as a young lady and decided they were too

pretty to use. A search for vintage tea towels revealed many different sizes and different kitchen uses. The “It’s the berries” and “Banana split” measure 32” by 36” and are made from a soft fabric. The other four measure 21” by 37” and are made from the same fabric.

 The provenance of all the above items is Mildred Couch Culbertson, 1899-1970, Eleanor Schuler Boldt, 1910-1995, Selma Kampe Blackmon, current owner of these items.

 Mildred’s relationship to me: grandaunt.

 My remembrances of Aunt Mildred include:

she lived in Lockport

she had an apartment above my grandparents

she worked industriously making custom draperies

she had a bright sewing room with windows on two sides

she entertained me, in the early 1950s, in her living room by playing her guitar and singing gospel songs

she exemplified Psalm 139:1-18

 My Roots_Digger tree is on MyHeritage.com and Ancestry.com or email sbgenealogy@gmail.com

Carrie S. Couch, 1856-1927, from photographer to inventor

 

Carrie S. Couch, Sarah Caroline Couch, or Sarah C. Couch, her life is full of conflicting information. Was she born in Rome, Oneida County, New York, or Rochester, Monroe County, New York? Carrie’s death certificate and obituary agree on a birth date of 2 October 1856. The obituary reads Rochester and her death certificate reads Rome. As the family arrived in LaSalle County, Illinois, in approximately January 1857, she was a very young baby.

 1860 – Brookfield Township, LaSalle County, Illinois, U.S. Federal Census

1870 – unable to find her as of this article

1880 – unable to find her as of this article

1896 – Kankakee, Kankakee County, Illinois, city directory lists Elisha T Couch, farmer, Carrie A, photographer, George H Couch, farmer, all reside at 230 Locust Street

1898 – Kankakee, Kankakee County, Illinois, city directory lists Jane A. Couch (widow of Elisha T) resides at 230 Locust, George H. Couch boards at 230 Locust,  Carrie S. Couch retoucher for C E Voss  boards at 230 Locust,

1900 – Crotty [Seneca], LaSalle County, Illinois, daughter of Jane A., occupation photographer. Also, in the home is George, son of Jane A. U.S. Federal Census

1904 - Kankakee, Kankakee County, Illinois, city directory, Carrie S Couch, retoucher, boards  192 Rosewood Ave

1906 – Marseilles Plaindealer, 20 April, page 2, newspaper notice of mother [Jane] ill and returned home to Seneca after living with her daughter [Carrie] in Kankakee

1910 – Crotty [Seneca], LaSalle County, Illinois, Main Street, Carrie and George living together (sister and brother), Carrie, own income [no occupation given] U.S. Federal Census

1912 - Bumble Bee newspaper, quoted from TheStory of Seneca, Illinois, page 4-15 “In 1912, Couch’s touted their new art studio with ‘fine photographs and reasonable prices’ opposite the post office in Seneca.”

1917 – U.S. patient for flour sifter   

1920 – Crotty [Seneca], LaSalle County, Illinois, Carrie and George living together (sister and brother), Carrie occupation photographer, U.S. Federal Census    

1927 – Republican-Times, Ottawa, Illinois, 5 July 1927, obituary. Carrie went to the hospital in Joliet for surgery on 19 June. She was doing well, yet passed away 4 July 1927.

 Couch family photos have been printed on card stock from C. E. Voss. Carrie apprenticed and worked for Charles E Voss. Mr. Voss was a well known Kankakee photographer. His studio was located downtown next to the train station, great access for tourist traffic. The studio location would be within walking distance of Carrie’s home. My research trip to Kankakee many years ago did not produce success with finding further information on Mr. Voss. 

MaureenTaylor, The Photo Detective, thank you!!! Without your encouragement, I would never have attempted to follow Carrie all these years. We met years ago at a national conference. Your comment stuck with me for years; “the faces and the hands do not match.” You explained that the faces appeared the appropriate age, but the hands were way too young. This blog introduces my attempt to explain the photographer and the photograph. Would Carrie, age about 20, be working for Mr. Voss as early as the late 1870s in Kankakee? The photo in question is labeled Grandma and Grandpa Dunaham [Dunham]. These people would be Carrie’s grandparents. This photograph of grandma and grandpa deserves a blog of its own.

What is Carrie S Couch's relationship to me? Carrie is my great-grandaunt. She is the daughter of Jane A. Dunham, 1823-1906, and Elisha T. Couch, 1820-1896.

Jane Angeline Dunham 1823-1906, parents William F Dunham & Sarah Metcalf

Green Bay Press-Gazette. 10 August 1893. Newspapers.com

William F Dunham and Sarah Metcalf have been connected as the parents of Jane Angeline Dunham 1823-1906. WE now have a paper trail and DNA trail. The reason I choose “WE” is because it has taken many years and many “cousins.” This hunt started in about 1990 with several photos from a 1900 Christmas album gift to my grandmother, Nettie Couch, 1884-1965. The hunt never ends. Now, I am looking for more cousins and more information on Jane’s parents. Along the way, I have found the names of DNA matches with every one of the siblings, several other Dunham families and several Metcalf families.

Special thanks to:

• Dunham’s of Rome including Ann Eldred (1935-2003), Phyllis KItson, P.C. Alger, and Bill Wood, these people put my original question, “Dunham by birth or by marriage?” to rest with many photos and family group sheets
• Beth for sharing a family group sheet from her research, especially on the Hickok line
• Rich for all his DNA hours and for answering my basic DNA questions
• Christina for this wonderful newspaper clipping that finally joins OUR family, for meeting me in Wisconsin several years ago, for introducing me to her sister, for sharing their family stories
• Jane Wilcox, Forget-MeNot Ancestry, for guiding me in my searches
• MyHeritage and Ancestry for DNA match suggestions
• NGS research trips, especially a full packed week in Madison, Wisconsin
• Gratia for sharing her vast knowledge of the Dunham family and her hours of research
• Many, many friends and family who have listened to me whine for 20+ years because I could not find Jane’s parents 

Jane A Dunham Couch

Jane Angeline DUNHAM (1823 - 1906)
2nd great-grandmother

Eugene Deloss COUCH (1851 - 1925)
Son of Jane Angeline DUNHAM

Nettie Ethel COUCH (1884 - 1965)
Daughter of Eugene Deloss COUCH

Mildred Louise SCHULER (1919 - 2008)
Daughter of Nettie Ethel COUCH

Selma Ethel KAMPE
You are the daughter of Mildred Louise SCHULER

Now, more questions:

• How come family Bible and all censuses except 1900 census list New York or Rome, New York as birth?
• How come the 43 year lack of family contact?
• How come migrated to LaSalle County, Illinois instead of Wisconsin?
• Who are Jane’s grandparents?

View my Roots_Digger tree on Ancestry and Roots_Digger Related on MyHeritage. Join me in our search for more family members, stories, photos. Contact me a sbgenealogy@gmail.com

The Story of Seneca, Illinois was compiled by the Seneca Historical Guild members. The published hard cover book was presented to the people during the 150th Seneca Sesquicentennial held June 24 - 28, 2015. The Seneca History web page announces, "A book about the community: written by the community." Written as a celebration and memorial to the people of Seneca, Illinois, this book achieves their mission.

 

The book is divided into 11 chapters covering the location, people, commerce, churches, government, transportation, and education. 
Chapter One introduces the reader to the historical and geographical facts of Crotty/Seneca. When and why was the name changed? The authors bring many documented theories together in an easy to read and understand format. Crotty, the village, was named for Jeremiah Crotty. Jeremiah Crotty, the founder, built the Illinois and Michigan Canal and the railroad in this area of Illinois. Did you know that Abraham Lincoln was a canal commissioner in 1856 and may have traveled through Seneca on the I & M Canal? 
Chapter Two includes 96 pages of family histories and memorials to service members. Seneca families have many bragging rights. Patrick W. Corcoran received patents for the Seneca Horse Collar and a weed cutter for cultivators in the late 1800s. In 1917, Carrie S. Couch received a patent for a flour sifter. Between 1942 and 1945, workers produced 157 Landing Ship Tanks. Winston Churchill waited for LSTs to be built and delivered for the invasion of Normandy. On page 10-20, Marshall Caulk shares his photos and memories of being the only known resident of the Seneca area to board and sail a LST out of the shipyards. How did the ships, built in central Illinois, find their way to the ocean? Interested in shipyards, shipbuilding and the effects of the families in the middle of America? Read The Story of Seneca, Illinois. Twenty pages provide a brief peek into the lives that were changed forever by the Seneca LST Shipyards.
Chapter Three offers a glimpse of the localities. Where Senecans lived, played, shopped and were buried. Some of the houses have both the "then and now" pictures.
Chapter Four tells about the commerce. Do you know that at one time someone could purchase a wedding ring or car to a piano on Main Street? This chapter includes photos of the businesses, the grain elevator, the I and M Canal and the railroad yard.
Following chapters include education, churches, government, organizations, transportation, and more.
Interested in finding out how come Seneca is in Illinois and not Wisconsin? Interested in shipyards, shipbuilding and the effects on the families in the middle of America? Interested in reading about life in rural America? Read The Story of Seneca, Illinois. In the Forward, Jeff Maierhofer, President of the Guild, writes "One of our goals with this book is to spur interest in further study of history, not only of Seneca, but of our world's history in general." Thank you to all our sponsors; without your support this historical research project would not have been printed. YOU - our commerce, educators, churches, government servants and service organizations - will write the future chapters.

The rating for this book is five stars for the quality and number of photographs both past and present, the narratives comparing the growth and changes, the formatting and publishing and the encouragement to continue our history. The Story of Seneca, Illinois provides an excellent resource for area history and an example for other areas on how to publish a quality book. 

For comments or questions, please contact Selma Blackmon.

Sunday's Obituary - KILMER, May E. BENNETT (1881-1907)

KILMER, May E. BENNETT (1881-1907)


SENSATION AT SENECA

Sudden Death of Mrs. Roy Kilmer Starts Many Rumors

MURDER AND SUICIDE TALK

Coroner's Jury Render Verdict of Death from Natural Causes.

   Mrs. May Bennett Kilmer died very suddenly on Sunday, November 3, at Seneca. About 4 o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, her husband, Roy Kilmer, was also taken very ill and for some time it was thought he was going to die. These facts seemed to produce many queries in the minds of the Seneca people and all kinds of stories were started which included murder and suicide by poison. On Monday a coroner's jury after hearing the evidence, set the people's minds at rest by returning a verdict that death was produced by natural causes.
   The inquest developed the fact that Mrs. Kilmer's death was caused by the bursting of an abscess on the brain. A post-mortem examination was made which cleared away all ideas of murder or suicide.
   Mrs. Kilmer, nee May Bennett, was married about two weeks ago in Ottawa, her former home. She was in the twenty-seventh year of her age.
   From the stories told at the time of the woman's death it was gleaned that Kilmer had been engaged to another woman, who had gone east but returned to find that Kilmer had taken another woman for his wife. A breach of promise suit was threatened and it is stated that some action had been taken in that direction. All the parties came to Ottawa last Friday in connection with the matter.
   When these circumstances became known the sensational stories were started afloat and exaggerated as they were recounted to others.

"SENSATION AT SENECA," Ottawa Fair Dealer, 8 November 1907, page 1. accessed at LaSalle County Genealogical Guild, Ottawa, Illinois.

Sunday's Obituary - CULBERTSON, Mildred Angeline COUCH(1889-1970)

MILDRED CULBERTSON

Mrs. Mildred Culbertson, 81, formerly of 815 Madison St. in Lockport, died Sunday (Aug. 23, 1970) at the Salem Home for the Aged in Joliet.
Mrs. Culbertson was born in Seneca. She lived in Lockport for 18 years after living in Joliet.
Mrs. Culbertson was employed by the Boston Store in Joliet before retiring.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry; her parents, Eugene and Laura (Armstrong) Couch, and three sisters.
Mrs. Culbertson is survived by several nieces and nephews.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Goodale Funeral Home in Lockport with the Rev. William Boldt officiating. Burial will be in Elmhurst Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday.

DEATH NOTICES
CULBERTSON, Mildred-nee Couch, age 81 years, formerly of 815 Madison Street, Lockport. August 23, 1970 at the Salem Home for the Aged. Preceded in death by her husband, Harry (1944), her parents, Eugene and Laura (Armstrong) Couch; three sisters, Eugenia Woodin, Elsie Edwards, and Nettie Schuler. Survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Remains are at the Goodale Funeral Home where services will be held Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. with numerous Reverend William Boldt, formerly of St. John's English Lutheran Church of Joliet, officiating. Interment Elmhurst Cemetery. Visitation 7-9 p.m. Tuesday.

"MILDRED CULBERTSON," obituary, Joliet Herald-News, 24 August 1970, Vol 66-357 and 358, pages 4 and 18. microfilm. Joliet Public Library, Joliet, Illinois.

Sunday's Obituary - COUCH, Jane A. DUNHAM (1823-1906)

Mrs. Jane A. Couch was born Nov. 26, 1823, at Rome, New York.
She was married to Elisha T. Couch Dec. 24, 1846. Six children were born to this union, four of which are still living. She and her husband came to Seneca in June 1857, where she resided until the time of her death, which took place Friday, April 27, 1906. She was 82 years and 5 months old at the time of her death. Her husband died ten years ago.
She leaves two sisters, three sons, one daughter, nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren to mourn her departure.
Many years ago she united with the Methodist church, of which she was a member until death removed her to the church above.
She has been confined to her home for a long time and during those days of loneliness her only comfort was her bible and prayer.
She was a loving and devoted wife, a faithful mother and a true friend. When the cold hand of death was laid upon her, it unlocked for her the portals of eternal life, and now, while her body rests in its bed of earth, her soul relines on the bosom of God. She lived out man's allotted time, three score years and ten, and was living on borrowed time. She could with the poet say
"Life! we've been long together,
Through pleasant and cloudy weather.
'Tis hard to part when friends are dear;
Perhaps 'twill cost a sigh, a tear;
Then steal way, give little warning,
Chose thine own time,
Say not good night, but in some brighter clime
Bid me good morning."

Mrs. Jane A. Couch died this morning at 6 o'clock, at her home on Main street. She was over eighty years old and had been ailing for some time. Funeral services will be held at the M.E. church at 2 P.m. Sunday. Deceased leaves to mourn her death three sons, George and Eugene, of Seneca, and Lew, of Marseilles, and one daughter, Carrie.

"Jane A. Couch.," undated clipping, April 1906, from unidentified newspaper; Blackmon Collection Family Papers, clipping in Schuler wedding book; privately held 2013 by Selma Blackmon, [address for private use], Norcross, Georgia.

Mrs. Jane Couch died Friday morning. The funeral services were held Sunday at 2 p.m. in the M.E. church, Rev. C. Murray officiating. Interment i Mt. Hope cemetery. The deceased leaves four children to mourn her - Louis if Marseilles, Eugene and George of Seneca and - Miss Carrie of Kankakee.

microfilm at LaSalle Genealogy Guild, Ottawa, IL. Possibly the only copy of this newspaper. Not available at the IL State Lincoln Library.

"SENECA," obituary, Ottawa Fair Dealer, 4 May 1906, page 2 column 1.